Liam Payne makes emotional final TV appearance in Netflix’s ‘Building the Band’

The late singer helps shape the next generation of stars in his last on-screen role.

Netflix has unveiled the trailer for its upcoming music competition series Building the Band, featuring the final television appearance of late singer Liam Payne. The series, which premieres on July 9, showcases Payne in a guest judge role alongside Kelly Rowland, with Nicole Scherzinger serving as lead mentor and AJ McLean as host.

Payne, who tragically passed away in October last year at age 31 after a fall in Argentina, appears throughout the show offering guidance to young performers hoping to make it big. His participation in the show was approved by his family, according to a statement from Netflix.

The series follows 50 aspiring singers as they are placed into six groups without seeing one another. Relying only on vocal performance, the participants form bands and compete for a spot at the top. The format draws comparisons to Love Is Blind, but with a musical twist. Contestants must evolve into cohesive, stage-ready groups, performing live and receiving feedback from seasoned industry professionals.

In scenes from the trailer, Payne is seen advising singers with the same insight and candour that fans came to know during his One Direction days. “You got a lot of work to do vocally,” he tells one group. In another scene, he reflects on how One Direction was formed, saying, “To have these bands put together is not normal. We were put together that way.”

For fans, Payne’s presence adds an emotional layer to the series, serving both as a celebration of his legacy and a final glimpse into his passion for music. Building the Band offers more than competition - it’s a tribute to an artist whose influence shaped a generation.