Teen Pop Tragedies: Liam Payne’s Shocking Death and More

There’s something uniquely special about the bond between teen pop sensations and their fan bases, which is tragically highlighted when an artist dies young.

After One Direction alum Liam Payne died at age 31 in October 2024 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, fans flocked to the scene to hold an impromptu vigil for the late singer. Many fans were seen crying and singing One Direction songs.

Members of the Backstreet Boys were among the stars who shared tributes to Payne after his death.

“Words can not express the emotions we are collectively feeling right now, and it seems like the rest of the world is in the same boat,” the boy band wrote in an Instagram Story statement. “Our hearts go out to Liam’s family, friends and directioners around the world. Rest In Peace brother.”

Keep scrolling for a look back at some of the teen pop stars whose untimely deaths shocked fans:

Tom Parker

Parker was a member of the British-Irish boy band the Wanted from 2009 until he died at age 33 in March 2022 from complications of glioblastoma.

The Wanted originally went on an indefinite hiatus in 2014 but reunited in 2021 after Parker was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. In April 2022, the Wanted released a new version of their song “Gold Forever,” titled “Gold Forever (For Tom),” and donated all proceeds from the single to The Brain Tumour Charity.

Parker is survived by wife Kelsey Hardwick and their two children: daughter Aurelia, born in 2019, and son Bodhi, born in 2020.

Chris Trousdale

Trousdale, who was a member of Dream Street from 1999 to 2002, died at age 34 in June 2020 from complications of an undisclosed illness. His former bandmates, Greg Rapaso, Frankie J. Galasso, Matt Ballinger and Jesse McCartney, reunited for a virtual performance of the Dream Street song “It Happens Every Time” as a tribute to Trousdale shortly after his death.

Yohan

Yohan was a member of the K-pop group TST from 2017 until he died at age 28 in June 2020. His cause of death has not been revealed.

“We are sad to relay the most unfortunate, sorrowful news. On June 16, TST member Yohan left this world,” TST’s record label, KJ Entertainment, said in a statement at the time. “The late Yohan’s family is currently in deep mourning.”

Yohan was previously a member of the K-pop group NOM (No Other Man) from 2013 to 2016.

Liam Payne

Payne died at age 31 in October 2024 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Argentina. Buenos Aires emergency services chief Albert Crescenti said that Payne suffered “serious injuries” as a result of the fall, which led to his death.

“Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life,” Crescenti said, per La Nacion. “Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.”

Liam Payne Through the Years: The One Direction Alum's Life in Photos

Payne was a member of One Direction from 2010 until the group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016. He went on to pursue a solo career, releasing his debut single, “Strip That Down,” in 2017. He is survived by son Bear, whom he welcomed with ex Cheryl Cole in 2017.

Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes

Lopes was a member of TLC from 1990 until she died at age 30 in 2002. Lopes died instantly from a cranium fracture and cerebral trauma after a car crash in Honduras. Her family released a posthumous album titled Eye Legacy in 2009.

Aaron Carter

In a generation of boy bands (including his brother, Nick Carter’s group the Backstreet Boys) Aaron thrived as a solo artist, releasing six studio albums between 1997 and 2022. Aaron died at age 34 in November 2022. His death was ruled an accidental drowning after inhaling difluoroethane and taking alprazolam.

The Backstreet Boys did a tribute to Aaron one day after his death while performing at London’s O2 arena, showing pictures of the late singer on giant screens.

Aaron is survived by son Prince, whom he welcomed with ex-fiancée Melanie Martin in 2021.

Jonghyun

Jonghyun was a member of the Korean boy band Shinee from 2008 until he died at age 27 in December 2017. He was pronounced dead at a hospital in Seoul, South Korea, after being found unconscious at a rented apartment. His sister had previously called emergency responders after Jonghyun sent her text messages giving a “final farewell.”

Shinee released the single “From Now On” in March 2018, which posthumously featured Jonghyun.

Aaliyah

Known as the “Queen of Urban Pop” and “Princess of R&B,” Aaliyah released her debut album, Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number, when she was 15. She went on to release two more studio albums before she died at age 22 in August 2001 after an airplane she was on crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff. Two compilation albums, 2002’s I Care 4 U and 2005’s Ultimate Aaliyah, were released posthumously.

Anthony Galindo

Galindo, a former member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo and the spinoff group MDO, died at age 41 in October 2020 after being hospitalized for injuries suffered in a suicide attempt. His family said in an Instagram post that Galindo’s battle with depression was “exacerbated by the [Coronavirus] pandemic and resulted in the trigger for this drastic and unfortunate decision.”

He is survived by daughter Elizabeth, whom he shared with wife Dayana Maya.

'South Pacific' Star Mitzi Gaynor Dead at 93

Stephen Gately

Gately was a member of the Irish boy band Boyzone from 1993 to 2000, and then pursued a solo career when the group took a hiatus until 2007. He took part in the band’s 2008 Back Again … No Matter What tour before he died at age 33 in October 2009 from a pulmonary edema resulting from an undiagnosed heart condition.

Boyzone released their fourth studio album, 2010’s Brother, as a tribute to Gately. The record included two new songs performed by Gately before his death.

Christina Grimmie

Grimmie began growing a following at age 15 by posting singing videos to YouTube. She performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2011 before auditioning for season 6 of The Voice in 2014. She finished in third place, behind winner Josh Kaufman and runner-up Jake Worthington.

Grimmie died at age 22 in June 2016 after Kevin James Loibl shot her three times during an autograph signing in Orlando. A friend of Loibl subsequently told police that Loibl had become fixated on Grimmie in the year leading up to her murder and made changes to his appearance to try to impress her. Loibl fatally shot himself before police officers could bring him into custody for Grimmie’s murder.

After Grimmie’s death, her former Voice coach Adam Levine wrote via Facebook that he and his wife, Behati Prinsloo, were “absolutely devastated and heartbroken.”

He continued, “Christina was a natural, a gifted talent that comes along so rarely. She was taken from us too soon. This is yet another senseless act of extreme violence. I am left stunned and confused how these things can conceivably continue to happen in our world.”

Rich Cronin

Cronin was a member of the band LFO, best known for their 1999 song “Summer Girls,” from 1995 until 2002. He died at age 36 in September 2010 after a battle with leukemia. Following his death, LFO briefly reunited from 2017-2018.

“We’re sincerely thankful and excited to have the opportunity to create new music and tour again. We miss the presence of our late great brother bandmate Rich Cronin,” member Brad Fischetti told Entertainment Weekly in 2017. “We will do our best to make him proud, carry on his legacy and to usher LFO into the future.”

Inside Liam Payne's Bond With His Former One Direction Members

Devin Lima

LFO suffered another tragedy in 2018 when Lima died at age 41 following a yearlong battle with stage 4 adrenal cancer.

“It is with a truly broken heart that I confirm that Harold ‘Devin’ Lima passed away early this morning after a valiant battle with cancer,” Fischetti said in a statement at the time. “On behalf of the LFO family, thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love from friends, family, fans, media and those in the music industry.”

Brian ‘Brizz’ Gillis

Faschetti became the last living member of LFO after Gillis died of undisclosed causes at age 47 in March 2023. Gillis was a member of the group from 1995 to 1999.

“I am really struggling to process this tragic loss. I’ve said it before and I will continue to say it; the LFO Story is a tragedy,” Faschetti wrote via Instagram at the time. “My relationship with Brian was complex. It contained moments of great tribulation but also of great joy. I learned a lot from him about the business of music and how to put together and rock a show. And it’s those positive aspects of our relationship that I will lean on now and forever.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.