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Netflix’s latest musical competition show, Building The Band, pits newly formed musical groups against one another on stage. The victor of the reality TV series gets a major prize—$500k to put towards their future career as a band.
Now that Season 1 has come to an end, fans know that it was all-girl group 3QUENCY who took home the win. An equally notable part of the last episode, however, took place after the winner announcement was made, when guest judge Liam Payne took to the stage himself to sing a One Direction song.
Liam Sang ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ For The Audience
Throughout the season, the hopeful singers in the competition were given guidance by a variety of experts, including choreographers, vocal coaches, and mentors. The panel of judges was comprised of three musical group legends: Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, and Liam Payne, who himself got his start from a reality TV show in the form of The X Factor.
Fans of Liam’s were heartbroken to hear of his passing last fall, and even more curious to tune into Building The Band, which turned out to be his last TV project before his death. Indeed, in the last moments of Episode 10, viewers heard One Direction’s song “What Makes You Beautiful” begin to play over the speakers—and then Liam grabbed a mic and began to sing the tune.
Liam didn’t just lip sync the song, but rather demonstrated his vocal prowess by harmonizing with the track. At one point, he even got up from his seat and walked into the crowd, where he shook hands with fans in the audience and encouraged them to sing along as well. From the judges’ stage, Nicole and Kelly could be seen clapping along, enjoying the live performance that capped off the season.
Once Liam finished his rendition of the song, he made his way back to his seat, being shepherded through the crowd by a security guard. Upon his return, fellow judge Nicole applauded him for his performance, saying “That was awesome!” Liam beamed, responding, “That was so fun!”
In these final moments of the season, a message came over the screen, acknowledging the passing of the beloved singer, the tragic event contrasted with the happy one fans were watching:
In loving memory of Liam Payne.
Seeing the tenderness with which Liam handled his old music and his fans made it all the more heartbreaking to realize he was gone too soon.
Liam’s Castmates Remember Him Fondly
Reviews of the show have already praised Liam for his kindness as a judge, giving constructive criticism in a way that motivates the contestants and often pulling from his own experience as a participant in a talent competition. Since his untimely passing, the other artists who filmed Building The Band with Liam have spoken out about how wonderful a presence he was to be around.
As reported by Today, the show’s host, former Backstreet Boy AJ McLean, opened up about how pleasant and professional he found Liam to be:
He lit up any room that he walked into. Whether it was a dressing room, on set, where he was, he lit up that space with his energy, with his open heart, open mind. He was extremely, very well-spoken, very articulate when it came to giving feedback as a mentor to these groups.
It seems only right, then, that the entire season was dedicated to Liam’s memory. As AJ noted in the opening of the pilot episode, “It’s through [Liam’s] spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family.”
- Network
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Netflix
- Cast
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Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, Liam Payne, AJ McLean
- Genre
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Reality TV
- Premiere Date
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July 9, 2025
Building The Band is a music competition reality series that takes a unique approach to forming the next big pop group. Premiering July 9, 2025, on Netflix, the show begins with 50 solo singers auditioning in blind, isolated pods, where they can only hear each other’s voices. Contestants swipe “like” or “pass” as they listen, focusing purely on vocal chemistry rather than looks or personality. From there, selected musicians join forces to form six separate bands, moving through a series of challenges including live performances, songwriting workshops, and branding exercises. The show emphasizes not just vocal talent but also teamwork, versatility, and group cohesion, with the goal of launching a real, fully developed music act by the end of the season.
Guiding the competition is a high-profile judging panel made up of music industry veterans: Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, and the late Liam Payne, with hosting duties handled by AJ McLean. Each judge brings personal experience from global groups—Scherzinger from The Pussycat Dolls, Rowland from Destiny’s Child, and Payne from One Direction—offering both critique and hands-on mentorship to the contestants. Their feedback isn’t limited to vocal performance; they also focus on interpersonal dynamics, branding, and long-term career viability. Liam Payne’s participation adds an emotional layer to the series, as Building The Band marks his final project before his passing in 2024. Throughout the show, viewers witness not just the formation of new bands but also honest, often vulnerable conversations about fame, pressure, and what it takes to truly succeed as a collective rather than as a solo act.
