Liam Payne’s early family life – nurse mum, debts and dad’s heartbreak over fame

Liam Payne grew up in a home in Wolverhampton where money was short but love was plenty.

His mum, Karen, was a nursery nurse, while his dad, Geoff, was a fitter, and the humble couple raised their son alongside his two older sisters.

The family were extremely close and Liam’s parents often expressed how proud they were of their popstar son. But even before fame and fortune, Liam always had one dream he wanted to pursue.

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Before his first audition on The X Factor in 2008 when he was just 14, Liam said: “I should really be concentrating on my [school] work but I just think about singing too much. It’s a dream and I’d love to do it.”

Liam performed as a schoolboy at St Peter’s Collegiate School in Compton and he studied music at Wolverhampton College – before being chosen by Simon Cowell to be a member of One Direction.

But before his life changed with their debut single What Makes You Beautiful, Liam was just a normal young chap.

Speaking about his childhood, he told The Telegraph in 2017: “It was great, though we didn’t have much. Dad was in debt, but they did the best they could. It makes you dream a bit, you know.”

He also once said that him being a professional singer would be the “thing that made my parents proudest”.

And he was completely right because his an Instagram account which appears to belong to his dad still reads: “Proud to call myself Liam Payne’s father.”

Karen also once broke down in tears outside Madison Square Garden in New York where her son was playing with his bandmates.

She was inconsolable in the This Is Us documentary released in 2013 where she was seen buying a £34.99 cardboard cut-out of her son.

And speaking about her boy’s sudden fame and how she kept the cut-out in her living room, she said: “We miss him. He left home my little boy and became the boy in a magazine. If I have this I can still see him every day. When I see him on stage I absolutely burst with pride, but we do miss him so much.

“I shed tears just looking at him. They become someone in a newspaper or a magazine to you. I always believed Liam would make it but never this big. Never in my wildest dreams. He goes away for so long.”

Geoff was also on the verge of tears when he spoke about some of the things he missed out on with his son who was travelling the world for sold out shows.

“It’s not just the mums, it’s the dads that struggle too.” he said. “I mean, I can’t offer him much, I could take him out for a drink or play some pool.

“But he’s the only lad in the family and I’ll never get this time back, he’s gone. And I can’t give him advice because he has seen more of the world than me.”

Liam also had a close relationship with his older sisters Nicola and Ruth. And in an old post Ruth wrote on Instagram: “Ruth here! I’m 21! Best boy friend and two siblings including a very talented brother that makes us all proud!”

Nicola meanwhile has 98,3000 Instagram followers and in August she attended a Niall Horan concert and said: “Great show and crowd fab to see you doing your thing.”

One person replied: “My directioner heart is bursting right now.”

Another said: “You are always so supportive of the guys.”

After tragic news of Liam’s death in Buenos Aires, Argentina, broke last night, Geoff and Karen were seen leaving their home “in a hurry”.

A family member has since told reporters: “We’re obviously devastated at the news but we don’t want to comment.”

Neighbours reported that his parents left the property around midnight October 16, while two women believed to be his sisters entered at 9am October 17.

A local resident said: “They were seen leaving in a hurry at around midnight last night but I’m not sure if they had bags. You can’t imagine what they are going through. I know Liam liked to get back here when he could. They will be utterly heartbroken as they are very close.

“His home town always had a place in his heart. The community is going to be devastated. I think the sisters are there now, your heart goes out to them.”

Tributes have been paid to the former X Factor star, including from celebrities, fans and people in Payne’s hometown. His former school St Peter’s Collegiate Academy said: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our former student Liam Payne.

“During his time at St Peter’s Collegiate Academy, Liam was not only well-liked by his peers and teachers but also recognised for his talents. He made a positive impact on our school community and his contributions will be remembered.”

Payne was a fan of West Bromwich Albion and the football club joined the countless voices who have shared their respects toward the One Direction singer. They issued a statement saying: “We’re shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Baggies fan and musician Liam Payne. Our thoughts are with Liam’s family, friends and loved ones at this tragic time.”

Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk