Backstreet Boys singer AJ McLean shared a heartfelt tribute dedicated to Liam Payne during the premiere episode of Netflix’s new singing competition, which marks the late One Direction singer’s last TV appearance. The singer signed on for the Netflix talent show, Building The Band, just two months before his death in October 2024, aged 31.

Netflix’s “Building the Band” paid tribute to Liam Payne during episode 1. Payne, who died at age 31 in October 2024, posthumously appears as a judge on the reality competition series. At the start of the premiere episode, host AJ McLean acknowledged Payne’s death.

LIAM Payne’s team has bought in a pro-footballer turned top lawyer to run his music firms after his tragic death. The late One Director star, 31, died after falling from a hotel balcony in

And in the opening moments of the competition series’ first episode, AJ McLean — who hosts Building the Band — paid tribute to his late friend. “When we came together to film Building the Band, we never imagined we’d soon be saying goodbye to our friend Liam Payne,” the Backstreet Boys member tells the camera.

The Backstreet Boys member, who worked with the late One Direction singer on Netflix’s Building the Band, hopes fans will get to hear the "beautiful music" one day