Nicole Scherzinger isn’t just a Pussycat Doll, Broadway star, and X Factor legend—she’s also been playing fairy godmother to One Direction. And as it turns out, her magical mentoring powers extended to none other than Liam Payne, with whom she stayed in touch until the very end.
Yep, you read that right. Turns out Nicole didn’t just form One Direction and leave them to roam free like a pack of talented musical puppies. She kept tabs, stayed close, and, according to the iconic Andrew Lloyd Webber, was texting Liam on the very day he passed away.
Cue the plot twist. Broadway’s king of music, The Phantom of the Opera maestro himself, casually dropped this emotional bomb during an interview with Billboard. As if discussing Nicole’s powerhouse performance in Sunset Boulevard wasn’t enough, he slid in this jaw-dropper like it was just a side note:
“I suppose something that hasn’t been said, and I suppose I could say, is that of course she mentored Liam from One Direction,” Lloyd Webber said, probably sipping tea like he wasn’t wrecking our hearts. “On the Wednesday when he died, she was still texting him that day.”
And here’s where things get truly surreal. Nicole—who clearly runs on some kind of superhuman battery—still showed up to perform Sunset Boulevard that night. That’s right. Hours after receiving the tragic news, she put on her diva shoes and took to the stage.
Lloyd Webber gushed harder than a broken fire hydrant: “She’d just heard that he died, and the fact that she even did the show at all is extraordinary. I mean, she is an amazing, amazing woman. She is without any question one of the finest performers I’ve ever worked with.”
Imagine being able to belt out show tunes while your heart’s in a million pieces. That’s Nicole for you. Not only is she a front-runner for a Tony Award next year, but apparently, she’s also a frontrunner for the Human of the Year Award too.
“When she commits to something, she’s the most incredible company member and leader of any performer I know,” Lloyd Webber added. Basically, if Nicole Scherzinger says she’s showing up, she’s showing up. Rain or shine, joy or sorrow—this woman delivers.
So, what have we learned today? Nicole Scherzinger isn’t just a pop queen, a Broadway diva, or a mentor to global superstars. She’s also an unstoppable emotional force. Liam Payne’s memory lives on through her, and meanwhile, she’s out here slaying stages and collecting standing ovations like she’s got a patent on them.
If you’re not already rooting for Nicole to sweep the Tony Awards next year, you might need to rethink your life choices.
