Liam Payne’s connection to the next generation of boy-band hopefuls came full circle in Rio de Janeiro.
On Friday night, September 11, Soulidified, the American boy band formed through Netflix’s Building the Band, paused during their performance at Rock in Rio 2026 to remember the late One Direction star, who served as a guest judge and mentor on the series.
The group dedicated their song God Did His Thing to Payne, who passed away on October 16, 2024, at the age of 31.
With the heartfelt rendition they turned their concert into a tribute for the singer who had played a meaningful role in their Building the Band journey.
The moment was made even more touching by Soulidified member Bradley Rittmann, who performed wearing a shirt featuring Payne’s name.
For the members, the gesture carried a deeply personal significance as the Teardrops singer was not simply a global pop star they admired but a part of the project that brought their group together.
For the unversed, Payne appeared as a guest judge and mentor on Building the Band, offering contestants advice drawn from his own experience as a member of One Direction.
The series was filmed before his death and subsequently became the first posthumous show featuring Payne as it aired after his death.
