United Kingdom, Nov. 26 -- Simon Cowell encouraged Liam Payne to find a new passion in life before he passed away.

The 66-year-old music mogul oversaw Liam's rise to fame as a member of One Direction, and Simon has now shared details of a conversation that he had with the pop star before he died in October 2024, aged 31.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Simon shared: "I remember saying, 'Music is not everything. Don't let it run your life anymore. Find something else that you are passionate about'."

Liam died after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Simon has confessed to feeling devastated by the news.

The TV star said: "When I heard the news, it really hit me. I saw him a year before this happene...