After two failed marriages to Ashley Cole and Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini and a string of relationships with Kieron Dyer, Derek Hough, and Tre Holloway, Cheryl finally settled on One Direction star Liam Payne, who sadly passed away in October 2024.
Aged 31, he died after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Cheryl stuns in a black feathered mini dress while Liam Payne opts for a sleek powder blue suit at the BRIT Awards (Credit: Ian West / PA Images / INSTARimages)
So, how did they actually meet, and how did their relationship unfold? Read on to find out more!
How Liam Payne and Cheryl First Crossed Paths on The X Factor
This former couple met for the first time in 2008 when Liam, aged 14, auditioned for The X Factor. Cheryl, 24 at the time, was on the judging panel.
During his audition for season five of the show, he sang “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra and gave Cheryl a cheeky wink. Cheryl, who was married to footballer Ashley Cole at the time, praised Liam for his charisma. Despite making it to boot camp, Simon Cowell sent Liam home, advising him to return in two years.
“I think you’re really cute, you have charisma and you gave me a cheeky wink,” Cheryl said about her first impressions.
In 2010, Liam returned to The X Factor, the same year Cheryl divorced her first husband, Ashley Cole. Although Liam was cut as a solo artist again, judge Nicole Scherzinger suggested forming a group with other solo rejects, leading to the creation of One Direction.
In December 2015, One Direction performed at The X Factor final, where Liam and Cheryl reunited. At the time, Cheryl was married to her second husband, Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini.
From Meeting to Relationship: How Liam and Cheryl’s Love Story Developed
Despite this early meeting, they didn’t become official until eight years later, in 2016. The ten-year age difference didn’t stop this couple from celebrating their romance.
A young Liam Payne auditions for The X Factor in 2008, where he first met future partner Cheryl (Credit: ITV)
In this happy period, Liam updated his Instagram followers with cozy snaps of himself and Cheryl. With Liam standing at 5’9” and Cheryl at 5’2”, no one could deny that this pretty pair looked good together. Cheryl gave birth to their first child, Bear Grey, in spring 2018.
“My close friends and family know there are very few times when I’m left speechless… wow! I’m incredibly happy to welcome our new baby boy into the world,” Liam wrote on his Instagram page.
“It’s a moment that I will never forget for the rest of my life and my favourite memory I have so far. I’m completely in awe of his incredible mother and how she has been the whole way through this, she’s really made my dreams come true.”
Why Cheryl and Liam Payne’s Romance Came to an End
However, the whirlwind romance wasn’t meant to last. Liam and Cheryl split just months after their son’s first birthday, going their separate ways in June 2018.
Cheryl chose to break up with Liam because she had been left to raise baby Bear alone. It appears that Cheryl had to look after the baby while Liam performed at festivals and concerts worldwide, further excelling in his music career, while Cheryl put hers on hold.
Liam Payne and Cheryl step out hand-in-hand for a night out, both dressed in stylish black ensembles, exuding effortless elegance (Credit: INFphoto)
Both successful yet time-consuming careers in the music industry strained the relationship. Being at differing stages of their lives, the cracks in their age difference had finally started to show. After careful consideration, Cheryl made the sensible decision for them to go their separate ways.
However, this isn’t to say that the family has broken up. In a joint statement, the couple admitted that they still had a lot of love for their family unit and would continue co-parenting Bear.
“I take my son to school one or two times a week and it’s the best thing. The relationship we [him and Cheryl] have now as friends has only grown more,” Payne told YouTuber Logan Paul.
“We broke up for a reason and now she gives me full autonomy of my life and to do what I do and I know he’s [Bear’s] taken care of. He is all she cares about and I couldn’t ask for more.”
Life After the Breakup: Cheryl and Liam’s Co-Parenting Journey
After the break-up, Liam appeared to get close to Naomi Campbell, though the pair never confirmed that they were anything more than friends.
The One Direction singer dated Danielle Peazer yet moved on to his most recent relationship with model Maya Henry, whom he praised for keeping him happy. The two became engaged in 2020. In June 2021, they decided to end their relationship but rekindled it later that same year. However, they ultimately broke off their engagement for a second and final time in May 2022.
One Direction star Liam Payne and model Maya Henry met when she attended a 1D concert in 2015 and officially started dating in August 2019 (Credit: Nils Jorgensen / INSTARimages)
On the other hand, Cheryl has put her love life on hold, deciding to stay single and concentrate on her young son. After their devastating split, she has remained close to Liam to make every effort for baby Bear.
The Fight for This Love singer even suggested he move back into her house so Bear could have them both around. After all, pandemic restrictions made things particularly hard for Liam, who couldn’t see his son during this period.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Cheryl Tweedy pose for a photograph with the graduates of the team program during his visit to Cheryl’s Trust Centre on November 9, 2021, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England (Credit: INSTARimages)
Therefore, while Chiam came to an end, they remained close. Liam and Cheryl made every effort to co-parent Bear, ensuring their son was their priority. Although Liam has sadly passed away, the bond they shared through their child will always be a part of Cheryl’s story—just not in the way anyone had hoped.
As we look back, there was a time when Cheryl and Liam’s relationship seemed filled with love and promise, capturing the attention of fans and media alike. This brings us to a pivotal moment in April 2016, when their romance was in full bloom.
Cheryl Moves On: Living With Liam Payne Amid Finalizing Her Divorce
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini wears her hair in an edgy French braid as she leaves Sexy Fish restaurant on April 12, 2016, in Mayfair, London (Credit: Tim McLees / WENN)
In April 2016, Cheryl Ann Tweedy was still finalizing her divorce from Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini. Still, she was reportedly already living with her new beau, Liam Payne, in his £5.1 million home in Surrey.
The new couple looked very much in love when they stepped out for date night at Sexy Fish in London. They walked hand-in-hand as they left the restaurant clad in edgy ensembles.
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Liam Payne enjoy date night at Sexy Fish restaurant (Credit: Tim McLees / WENN)
The One Direction singer opted for a casual monochrome outfit, which included a white tee, a black leather jacket, and black jeans.
Liam Payne and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini leave Sexy Fish after dinner in London (Credit: Tim McLees / WENN)
The then 32-year-old Cheryl, on the other hand, went the quirky route in a pair of By Malene Birger black leather culottes, a tropical-printed bomber jacket by Saint Laurent, and a red blouse by Juan Carlos Obando.
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini wears a tropical print bomber jacket as she leaves dinner in London with her new boyfriend Liam Payne (Credit: Tim McLees / WENN)
Cheryl added some edge to her look with layered necklaces, a Saint Laurent fringed bag, and funky black shoes.
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini wears leather pants and a tropical-printed bomber jacket out in London (Credit: Tim McLees / WENN)
She rounded out her look with a French braid and neutral-toned makeup. The pop star, who already had applied to drop her surname, slipped into a pair of Tom Ford sandals.
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini’s feet in Tom Ford sandals (Credit: Tim McLees / WENN)
These bizarre black velvet shoes feature PVC trim, T-straps, back-zip fastenings, and 4.5-inch cylindrical heels. Unfortunately, these shoes are no longer available.
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Tom Ford PVC-Trimmed Velvet T-Bar Sandals, $1,490