Ed Sheeran paid a bittersweet tribute to Liam Payne on what would have been the late One Direction star’s 33rd birthday.
The Perfect hitmaker’s latest performance carried an especially poignant connection for One Direction fans as he performed Little Things.
On Saturday, August 29, Sheeran, 35, honoured his late pal with an emotional rendition during his LOOP Tour show in Detroit.
Little Things holds a special place in One Direction’s catalogue. The Shape Of You singer co-wrote the song, which was released by the group in 2012 and became one of their memorable ballads.
For the unversed, the Teardropssinger died on October 16, 2024, at the age of 31, after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
His death prompted an outpouring of grief from his bandmates, fellow musicians and millions of fans around the world.
In the months following his death, Payne’s music and One Direction legacy have continued to bring fans as well as 1D singers together.
Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik had one last reunion as five at Payne’s funeral.
They all shared their heartbreak over his passing via dedicated posts on their respective Instagram accounts.
2026-08-31 11:22:00
