Latest news with #AJMcLean
The Independent
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Liam Payne's family approves release of final project
Liam Payne 's family has approved the release of Netflix 's Building the Band, a music competition series featuring the late pop star as a guest judge. The former One Direction singer, who died in October 2024, aged 31, after falling from a hotel balcony, was involved in the show before his death. The show involves aspiring singers teaming up based on musical compatibility without seeing each other, judged on connection, chemistry, and merit. It is hosted by Backstreet Boys founding member AJ McLean with Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger as a mentor. Payne appears as a guest judge alongside former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland. Fans have expressed both excitement and sadness about seeing unaired clips of Payne, with some noting it will be his final project.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Liam Payne fans heartbroken as late One Direction singer's Netflix show gets release date
Liam Payne fans have been brought to tears as Netflix has confirmed the release date of the late singer's new music competition series, Building the Band. Filmed before the One Direction star's death in October 2024, the new 10-part series will see talented singers vie for a chance to form the next great band sight unseen. Payne serves as a guest judge on the series – which is hosted by Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean - alongside Destiny's Child star Kelly Rowland, while Nicole Scherzinger serves as a mentor and judge. Together, the trio bring their 'unparalleled expertise and personal band experience to the competition.' Netflix finished filming the show prior to the former One Direction star's sudden death and has since confirmed that his family reviewed the series and is supportive of his inclusion. The streaming giant announced on Wednesday that the show's first four episodes will launch on July 9. New episodes will roll out every Wednesday over the course of 10 episodes. Payne's fans expressed their devastation as they reacted to the announcement news. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one said: 'Oh it's gonna be so hard... Liam.' 'Heartbreaking to see Liam Payne in this poster,' another wrote. 'It's going to be his final project forever. I'm going to be crying my eyes out watching this show.' A third continued: 'Oh Liam... you should've been here. Your post sharing this poster, full of excitement and passion should've been the one where I saw it first. 'I know you're screaming about this wherever you are.' 'Not prepared,' another said. 'Idk if I'll be able to watch.' A fifth confessed: 'I'll be sobbing in my room while I watch.' 'Building the Band brings together talented singers for a truly unique competition show where building the perfect band is all about chemistry,' the show's official synopsis reads. 'The singers are in complete control as they seek to form their very own bands in individual "booths" without ever seeing each other. 'All they have to go on is musical compatibility, connection, chemistry and merit. What will happen when the bands finally meet, and looks, choreography, and style come into play? 'With incredible performances, compelling drama, and one big goal — to find the next great music band —t he stage is set for an unforgettable experience.' Payne died aged 31 on October 16 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after falling from a hotel. Fans across the world were stunned by his passing and an outpouring of grief culminated in a touching funeral attended by musical royalty and all of his former bandmates. His medical cause of death was announced to be 'polytrauma,' a term which means a person has multiple traumatic injuries to their body. Payne was one of five members of hit boyband One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan. The band were formed on Simon Cowell's The X Factor before becoming an international sensation. They split in 2016 after Zayn decided to leave the band.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
AJ McLean Reflects on Working With the Late Liam Payne: "He Wore His Heart on His Sleeve"
AJ McLean chats with THR at Netflix's 2025 Tudum red carpet and dishes on his new show 'Building the Band.' Plus, he reflects on working with the late Liam Payne, saying he "wore his heart on his sleeve."
Pink Villa
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Building the Band: AJ McLean Introduces Liam Payne's Last Project Before Tragic Death, Promises Unforgettable Experience
Trigger Warning: This article contains mention of death. AJ McLean dropped the first look for Liam Payne's final project, following the musician's tragic death in October 2024. The new Netflix series titled Building the Band was unveiled at the streaming platform's live event, Tudum, on May 31. McLean took on his hosting duties and introduced the format of the show to the audience. Teasing the thrill, McLean shared that the series is unlike anything the viewers have witnessed before. As for Payne 's role, the late singer had joined Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger on the judges panel. What will Building the Band be about? The Backstreet Boys star went on to reveal what the show was to offer to the audience. In his address, AJ McLean shared, "Today's most talented singers in the world will audition for each other and choose their own bandmates before ever seeing them.' He further added, '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." In the sneak peek of the upcoming Netflix show, the judges head into the studio and into their respective rooms. As they all meet the other artists, the musician faces difficulty in maintaining the chemistry and the correct rhythm. They talk about how it is to find their bandmates without being able to see each other. One of the women is heard saying, "I have a specific kind of group in my head, specifically a girl group.' While listening to other artists' performances, a man states, "I wanna see these people so bad.' If the judges like the performance of any of the contenders, they could press the buzzer, which is similar to The Voice format. Liam Payne's tragic death Following the completion of his filming for the show, Payne was headed to Buenos Aires to support Niall Horan in his concert. Days later, the musician tragically passed away after falling from his hotel balcony, located on the third floor. The medical officials revealed that the late singer had cracked his skull and suffered severe injuries on other parts of his body too. Liam Payne was laid to rest in November, where the funeral services were attended by all of his fellow One Direction band members.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
AJ McLean teases Liam Payne's unique final project Building the Band
AJ McLean says that Liam Payne's final project 'Building the Band' is "unlike anything you have ever seen before". The Backstreet Boys singer unveiled a first look at the new Netflix series - which was the late One Direction singer's last TV work before his tragic death aged 31 last October after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina - at the streamer's Tudum event on Saturday (31.05.25) and promised viewers that the show is unique. AJ, 47, said: "Today's most talented singers in the world will audition for each other and choose their own bandmates before ever seeing them. "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." 'Building the Band' was given the go ahead to air on Netflix earlier this year after officials at the streaming giant consulted with Liam's grieving relatives, although it is claimed that his loved ones were "surprised" by the announcement. A source told The Sun newspaper: "They spoke with Liam's family as they didn't want to progress the project without taking their feelings into consideration. "The family got the sense that this was a celebration of Liam, an image of positivity. He was doing what he did best as a true boyband star. "But they hadn't given it a final stamp of approval and as far as they were concerned were still discussing what the show would look like. So they were surprised by the announcement." Liam had completed filming for the series - which features singers looking to build a band despite being kept in separate booths so they can't see each other - several months before his death. A synopsis of the series explains: "All they [the contestants] have to go on is musical compatibility, connection, chemistry and merit ... with incredible performances, compelling drama, and one big goal - to find the next great music band - the stage is set for an unforgettable experience."
