The Grammy Awards 2025 paid an emotional tribute to the late Liam Payne, a former One Direction member, leaving fans in tears. Coldplay’s Chris Martin took the stage for a moving performance, honoring the singer’s life and career during the prestigious event’s “In Memoriam” segment.
Liam Payne, who died in October 2024 at 31, was remembered with a moving montage. The video captured Payne’s journey to global fame with One Direction, from early performances to meteoric success. A voiceover of Payne’s past interviews echoed through the arena: “We never expected any of this to happen. As if sitting and actually thinking about it, we’ve done some amazing things.”
Night of Tribute
The montage played with Chris Martin from Coldplay, giving an emotional version of “All My Love.” The raw emotion moved the crowd, and most were seen to be wiping away tears. Fans took to social media and reacted emotionally, such as saying: “Liam Payne’s tribute at the Grammy will forever be in my heart.
One Direction Members Pay Tribute in Their Own Way, while Liam’s ex-bandmates—Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik—were not present at the ceremony, they paid their respects to Payne at a private memorial service in the U.K. in November. The band’s unbreakable bond was reflected in poignant tributes shared by each member during the weeks following Payne’s death.
Emotional Reactions
The tribute was quickly one of the most talked-about moments of the night. A fan said, “Not the tribute starting with Liam’s One Direction days… #GRAMMYs.” Another one said, “A little boy with big dreams, gone too soon. We miss you, Liam.”
The GRAMMYs pay tribute to Liam Payne during Chris Martin’s performance. pic.twitter.com/aWiIjgLsW6
— 🏁 (@concertleaks) February 3, 2025
The Grammy Awards 2025 also paid homage to other iconic legends, including Quincy B. Jones, in breathtaking performances by Cynthia Erivo and Janelle Monáe. Trevor Noah took time to reflect on recent tragic plane crashes, reminding the audience that music has the power to comfort during times of grief.