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Liam Payne will appear in Netflix’s newest competition series, with the blessing of his family.
The late One Direction star will serve as a guest judge in Building the Band, which premieres July 9. The show, which is basically Love Is Blind, but for music, follows a group of singers as they attempt to put together the perfect musical group without ever meeting face-to-face.
Liam Payne’s family reviewed ‘Building the Band’
Payne’s involvement in Building the Band was announced last August. But after his tragic death two months later, it wasn’t clear if his work on the show would ever see the light of day. However, his family has since “reviewed the series and is supportive of his inclusion,” according to Netflix.
In addition to Payne, Building the Band features Tony-winner Nicole Scherzinger as a mentor and judge, and Kelly Rowland from Destiny’s Child as another guest judge. AJ McLean from Backstreet Boys hosts the series.
McLean says the show is “unlike anything you have ever seen before — trust me.”
“Today’s most talented singers in the world will audition for each other and choose their own bandmates before ever seeing them,” he said at Netflix’s Tudum live event on May 31. “Our judge and mentor, Nicole Scherzinger, and guest judges Kelly Rowland and the late Liam Payne, are from some of the biggest bands of all time. This show is all about one word: chemistry. And believe me: in a band, you really need some good chemistry.”
AJ McLean dedicates new Netflix show to late One Direction star
McLean describes Building the Band as a tribute to Payne, who died in October 2024 at age 31 following a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
“The very last thing Liam did was work on this amazing TV show for Netflix called Building the Band, which will be out this summer. And we’re dedicating the show to him,” he told an audience at 90s Con in Hartford, Conn. in March 2025 (via People).
“I got to really know him on a personal level and we had a lot of very similar life experiences, both in sobriety and out of sobriety,” he added.
After Payne’s death, McLean remembered him in an Instagram post.
“Words cannot begin to express the pain I have for this man and the great loss we have endured!” he wrote.
“We became very close almost immediately and shared so many stories , laughs, and life experiences,” he added. Gone too soon my friend. You were such a light an incredible person to be in the presence of daily while we worked together! I cannot believe you are gone. Keep shining and keep singing for us all to hear. ”
Building the Band premieres July 9 on Netflix. Episodes release weekly on Wednesdays through July 23.
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