The end of the year saw a shock twist in the tragic death of singer Liam Payne, when five people were charged in connection with his fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires last October – three men face manslaughter charges while two have been charged with supplying drugs. Now, after going through hell since his death, Liam’s former partner Cheryl is picking up the pieces as she and their seven-year-son Bear start a new year without him.
And sources say that, despite her ongoing grief and the many questions that still remain over his death, she’s determined to face 2025 with a positive attitude and ensure she and Bear have the best life possible.
‘For Cheryl, Liam’s tragic death has been a wake-up call that life is precious and we only get one shot at it, so we need to go after what matters,’ we’re told. ‘His death has shaken her, but she knows she can’t fall apart, so she’s using it to give her a renewed sense of purpose to live a life of joy and love. She is determined that 2025 is going to be her fresh start, and that from the grief comes the opportunity to make her dreams come true and change her and Bear’s lives.’
Cheryl – who was married to former footballer Ashley Cole between 2006-2010, and then to restaurateur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini from 2014-2016 – started dating Liam following her second marriage breakdown. They were together for just two years, and remained close after their split for the sake of their young son.
‘She’s one of the most, if not the most, important people in my life,’ Liam said in an interview after their 2018 break-up. And referring to the highs and lows of fame, he added, ‘I’m lucky I have someone who understands what I’m going through.’
After Liam’s shocking death aged just 31, Cheryl posted on Instagram about the ‘indescribably painful time’ she was going through, and touched on her son having to face ‘the reality of never seeing his father again’. The tragic news came just three years after Cheryl’s bandmate and close friend Sarah Harding passed away from breast cancer. To honour her memory, Cheryl – along with Kimberley Walsh, Nadine Coyle and Nicola Roberts – reunited for a hotly-awaited Girls Aloud comeback tour last summer. Hitting the road with the girls thrust Cheryl back into the spotlight, which she had mostly stepped back from after becoming a mum, for the first time since her 2023 run in the West End’s 2:22 A Ghost Story.
And we’re told that after the double heartache she has endured with Liam and Sarah, Cheryl’s new perspective on life is helping her become more open to career opportunities and the idea of finding love again. ‘Cheryl’s been doing a lot of deep thinking. She’s more open than ever to finding love, so for her, 2025 is going to be the year that she puts herself back out there,’ says our insider.
‘Doing the tour with the girls was really great for her, as it forced her out of her old patterns and comfort zones. She believes there’s another chapter for the girls. Nothing as intense as it was before, but she’d love to find a way to keep on performing for a few years. She loved the sense of pride and accomplishment she got from working. There’s so much she’d still love to achieve and she’s got so much more living to do.’
As well as feeling optimistic about her career prospects, we’re told that doting mum Cheryl is also planning some exciting things for her and Bear. Our insider says, ‘Cheryl wants to embrace travelling, and envisions her and Bear as explorers, seeing the world together when the time allows. This next year is about making the life of her dreams for them both.’