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2017 American Music Awards - Roaming Show

After Liam Payne’s Passing, Niall Horan Returns to the Stage Alongside Shawn Mendes

The former One Direction member is currently working on the release of his fourth studio album

Archivado en: Shawn Mendes  •  

Niall Horan finally made his long-awaited return to the stage this past weekend in London. The Irish singer had been away from live performances for almost a year. His reappearance happened at London’s O2 Arena, during a Shawn Mendes concert, where he was brought out as a surprise guest for a crowd that immediately went wild.

Horan had been absent from the spotlight since last fall, when he wrapped up The Show World Tour in Bogotá, Colombia, and decided to take a break from his professional schedule. That same period was also marked by the tragic death of Liam Payne, at just 31 — a devastating blow for all the former members of the band who had shared those early years of fame with him (Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Horan himself).

The loss was especially difficult for Niall, as he had recently spent time with Liam. Just a few weeks before the accident, Liam had traveled to Argentina to attend one of Niall’s concerts as a fan. On October 16, the Strip That Down singer fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, losing his life.

Since then, Horan had stayed completely out of the public eye. It wasn’t until Saturday night that he finally reappeared, invited onstage by Shawn Mendes (27) during the On The Road Again Tour. The welcome at the O2 Arena was overwhelming, with thousands of fans celebrating the return of one of today’s most recognizable pop voices.

Shawn’s Emotional Introduction

Before they started performing together, Mendes took a moment to say a few words about his friend and colleague:
“I met this guy many years ago — I was probably 16 or 17. I came into this industry and was terrified of everything and everyone. This man has been like an older brother to me. I love him with all my heart. Please give it up for Niall Horan.”

 

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Undeniable Chemistry on Stage

The connection between the two artists was clear on stage as they performed ‘This Town’ — the song that marked Niall’s solo debut after One Direction disbanded in 2016. On social media, Mendes shared a clip from the performance along with a heartfelt message: “I’ll remember this moment for a long time. Thank you so much, London.”

This wasn’t the first time they’d shared the stage. During a previous Horan tour, Mendes had already joined him to sing ‘Treat You Better’. But this time, the moment felt especially meaningful — marking Niall’s emotional return to live music after months of silence and personal loss.