At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Coldplay’s Chris Martin led a poignant tribute to the late Liam Payne, honoring the former One Direction star who tragically passed away at the age of 31. Payne, who died in October after falling from his hotel balcony, was the first artist to be commemorated during the emotional In Memoriam segment. The tribute featured an inspiring montage of his career with One Direction, showcasing his impact on the music world and his personal reflections. One clip from Payne expressed his amazement at the band’s success, saying, “We never expected any of this to happen. I sit and think, ‘Oh, we’ve actually done something amazing.’”
As part of the tribute, Chris Martin performed “All My Love” at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, accompanied by a string section and guitarist Grace Bowers. This heartfelt performance was set against a backdrop of visuals honoring those lost in the past year, highlighting figures like country music icon Toby Keith, soul legend Sam Moore, and other beloved artists. The tribute was a moving moment in a ceremony filled with emotion, as artists from different genres were remembered.
The Grammy’s In Memoriam segment also paid tribute to other stars, including Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers Band and Garth Hudson, the last surviving member of The Band. Many familiar names from the music world, like Kris Kristofferson and Phil Lesh, were remembered. Among the tributes, the passing of Marianne Faithfull, a legendary British singer, was marked with admiration and sorrow.
Despite speculation that One Direction might reunite to honor their friend, Grammy Awards executive producer Ben Winston confirmed that the group would not perform during the
