The BRIT Awards

The rumor mill is always working overtime where the former members of One Direction are concerned, but lately, it seems to be focused on Liam Payne and his girlfriend, Cheryl. Are they breaking up? Are they getting married? What's going on? Now, we finally have answers. In a new interview, Liam opened up about his relationship with Cheryl, and we finally know what's happening with the couple for once and for all.

While talking to Evening Standard, Liam revealed that although he and Cheryl have gone through a rough patch recently — which was bound to happen, seeing as they are both human and trying to tackle parenting their baby, Bear, for the first time — they're still hanging in there.

“The funniest thing was a week before we were getting married. The next week we’re splitting up,” Liam said, referencing all of the headlines about his relationship that have been thrown around lately. “And the thing for me is, I just like to think we’re somewhere in the middle. You know, we have our struggles — like of course, I’m not gonna sit here and say that everything’s absolutely fine and dandy, because of course you go through different things, and that’s what a relationship is.”

So true. No matter how adorable Liam and Cheryl are together (and they are really adorable), it doesn't mean they're not going to suffer from the same obstacles all couples have to overcome. And fortunately, according to Liam himself, it sounds like they've been able to push through when things get tough, and that's what really matters.

“This part of our relationship was never not going to happen, there was always going to be a little bit of tenseness in the way we sort ourselves out but tell me a relationship in the world that doesn’t go through a spot like that?” Liam added. “It’s about whether you make it through or not, together, is the main point there I guess.”

Liam also said that while he recognizes that things are going to be different for him and the Girls Aloud singer because they're both in the spotlight, all that really matters to him is how they make things work themselves, not what strangers think they should do. Even at just 24 years old, Liam's always been wise beyond his years, and this is just more proof of that fact.

“It’s difficult, obviously: having someone else who’s so high-profile in the media pushes everything that I do to another level, and I think it’s weird,” he said. “I feel like the press are more obsessed with it than the nation are, which is quite funny.” He added: “It is about making it work for us, not making it work how people think it should work.”

Good for Liam and Cheryl! It can't be easy to ignore what the media is saying, but it sounds like these two have it down. Now, everybody, take a breath — this adorable couple lives on (for now, at least).

The post Liam Payne Sets the Record Straight About Cheryl Breakup Rumors appeared first on www.alloy.com.

Music Choice

A lot has changed for Liam Payne ever since One Direction announced their hiatus in 2016. For starters, he's a father to an adorable one-year-old son named Bear. He's also in a relationship with Cheryl Cole. But above all else, he's grown up a lot in the last two years. In a new interview with #legend magazine, the musician got super real about his relationship with One Direction, their reunion plans, as well as the fact that all the fame took a toll on his mental health.

Liam admitted that fame made him “a little bit nuts” and distracted him from who he really was. “It pissed me off in the end because it was like, ‘You could have been this guy, but you chose to do this.' Nobody really knew anything about me,” he said, admitting that the person he was in front of the cameras wasn't him. But ever since 1D's hiatus, Liam has the had time to revisit his true self.

“So I feel a lot more myself than I ever did before, rather than being a part of something and having a part to play or treading on eggshells around someone,” he continued. Considering he was a member of one of the best boy bands of all time, there must have been tons of pressure to maintain his image. So, does Liam have any regrets? No, because whatever happened led him to where he is now. But one truth bomb he did reveal is that he was happy when the 1D break was announced.

“I remember the day we finished, because of the place I was in, I was quite happy that we had a break. I said to the person with me at the time, ‘Thank god I don’t have to play that person again for a long time.' It was exhausting and I couldn’t keep up with myself,” he explained.

We know what you're thinking: How could he say that!? Well, superstardom is not all it's cracked up to be. He went on to say that he and the band got along fine, but there were times that they didn't. He said that certain members would argue sometimes, but that it was always resolved. Liam also revealed that he doesn't think he'll ever not be friends with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson, which is exactly what we wanted to hear.

But does that mean we should stop dreaming about a 1D reunion? Well, Liam said there's still hope for that and also revealed what he imagines a reunion with the boys would be like.

“The only way we could get any bigger is to throw one massive concert where it’s basically all of us versus each other, but we’re still in a band,” he said. “So if we all went like, ‘Hang on a minute boys, just going to throw this in' and bang, on comes ‘Slow Hands’ [Niall's hit song] and we’re all just popping along – that would be the most fun sh*t ever.”

We are absolutely here for Liam's plan! Where can we sign up to pre-order our tickets?

The post Liam Payne Admits His One Direction Fame Made Him a “Little Bit Nuts” appeared first on www.alloy.com.

Music Choice

It's official: we've got another breakup to mourn this summer. Liam Payne and Cheryl have called it quits after more than two years of dating. The couple, who have a 15-month-old son named Bear together, announced their decision to go their separate ways in a heartbreaking statement on Twitter. Though we may have seen this split coming, it doesn't make it any easier…

“Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It's been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together,” Liam wrote.

Meanwhile, Cheryl echoed his words in a nearly identical statement on Twitter.

Co-parenting little Bear will certainly provide certain challenges, but it seems like both of them are determined to make it work. Even though they couldn't make their relationship last, the two still seem to have a lot of love for one another, which is really all that matters. Their split comes after months of speculation that there was trouble in paradise, and fans really started to speculate that the relationship was over when Liam didn't share any posts on social media to celebrate Cheryl's birthday over the weekend. But, the pair's last red carpet appearance together – at the 2018 BRIT Awards in February – was what really made us notice something wasn't right. They tried to put up a united front, but many fans saw right through it.

Then in March, Liam made it pretty clear that his relationship with Cheryl was on the rocks when he told Evening Standard that things between them were definitely not “fine and dandy.” He continued, “Of course you go through different things, and that's what a relationship is. But we go through them together as a family and that's the most important thing for me.”

The two first met while Cheryl was a judge on X Factor U.K. and Liam was a contestant in 2008. As you all know, he was paired with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik to create former boy band we all know and adore, One Direction. Liam and Cheryl had an 11 year age difference, which at first made people doubt them, but after Cheryl's pregnancy and the birth of Bear, we all thought they could stand the test of time.

According to The Sun Liam has already moved out of their shared home in Surrey, England, after breaking up two weeks ago. “Cheryl and Liam worked really hard on their relationship,” a source said. “But they’re in different stages of their lives and, after a lot of careful thought, came to a decision that it’s best for everyone if they do go their separate ways.”

As sad as were are that they've split, we wish Liam and Cheryl nothing but the best moving forward. Now, excuse us while we add them to the list of couples we need to grieve this year

The post It’s Over: Liam Payne & Cheryl Split After More Than 2 Years of Dating appeared first on www.alloy.com.

Columbia Records

Sometimes singers and musicians go all out in their music videos and completely transform themselves with wigs, makeup, costumes and even prosthesis. The result is a music video with ingenious characters that we aren’t going to forget anytime soon. Whether the singers can actually act or not really doesn’t matter. As long as they’ve wowed us with their epic makeovers and there’s a catchy song, the music video is a hit.

The post 17 Of The Best Music Video Makeovers appeared first on www.alloy.com.

Billboard

If you’re still not over One Direction’s hiatus, then we’ve got some terrible news for you. After months of speculation, Fifth Harmony confirmed what we already knew was coming: the girls are taking a break. Ally Brooke Hernandez, Normani Kordei, Dinah Jane, and Lauren Jauregui released a statement to their fans confirming that they’re taking an indefinite hiatus in order to focus on solo careers. The announcement comes six years after they formed Fifth Harmony on X Factor.

Unfortunately, the news isn’t particularly shocking since Harmonizers have been dreading this moment ever since Camila Cabello left the band in December 2016. Also, Ally Brooke, Lauren, and Normani have all reportedly signed solo deals, which has fuelled hiatus rumors.

It turns out the rumors were true. The ladies took to the group’s Instagram and make the final statement, saying:

Reflecting on the past six years since we started on X-Factor, we’ve realized just how far we’ve come and we appreciate everything so much, more now than ever. We’ve really had one hell of a memorable journey together and can’t begin to express our gratitude to y’all for coming along with us on this wild ride!

After six years going hard, non stop, we also realized that in order to stay authentic to ourselves and to you, we do need to take some time for now to go on a hiatus from Fifth Harmony in order to pursue solo endeavors.

We are all very excited and grateful to be able to take this time to learn and grow creatively and really find our footing as individuals. In doing this we are allowing ourselves to gain new experiences, strengths and perspectives that we can bring back to our Fifth Harmony family,” the band wrote in a statement posted to their social media.

The ladies then went on to thank their fans for their “love and encouragement,” as well as revealed that their hiatus will not affect any scheduled concerts and performances in 2018.

“To our Harmonizers, thank you for everything we have been able to build as Fifth Harmony,” they said. “With your love and encouragement, we will continue to build on ourselves, support one another in everything we do, and keep making you proud, each other proud and ourselves proud.”

Check out Fifth Harmony’s full statement here.

If you’re having a déjà vu moment, you’re not alone. We all felt this type of disappointment when One Direction announced their hiatus three years ago. Since then, fans have been hoping the group would reunite, however, it doesn’t seem like that will happen any time soon. Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, and Niall Horan all went on to pursue successful solo careers, while Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne became fathers. Therefore, it seems like they have a lot of their plates right now.

Let’s hope Fifth Harmony’s “indefinite” hiatus is significantly shorter. Based on their statement though, it seems like the ladies have every intention of reuniting so let’s hope they do! #ThankYouFifthHarmony

The post Fifth Harmony Just Announced They’re Taking An Indefinite Hiatus To Pursue Solo Careers appeared first on www.alloy.com.

Jive

What is the recipe for a good band? Are they formed when you get a bunch of friends who want to jam out together like 5 Seconds of Summer? Or is it better to have complete strangers thrust together with a common goal in mind – perhaps on a reality show, as proved successful with Little Mix? Which origin story is conducive to a long-lasting commitment like that of bands like U2? And can a band survive if one member decides to go solo?

Apparently, there is no magic formula, but one thing is for sure — it’s not easy to stay together after a member’s departure from the pack. We may have gained some incredible solo artists, but we still miss the girl groups and boy bands that they were once a part of. Sure, sometimes these bands actually reunite after their breakups and so-called hiatuses, but sometimes it’s a very long wait.

The post 16 Bands That Broke Up After A Member Went Solo appeared first on www.alloy.com.

Complex

Celebrity couples are adorable, but there’s no denying love in Hollywood is ~*complicated*~. Between press tours, movie premieres, and shooting far away from home, maintaining a relationship as a star is undeniably super difficult. Lots of Hollywood couples often end up breaking up, getting back together, and repeating this pattern until it’s so hard to keep track of are-they-or-aren’t-they.

These 16 maybe-couples are sure to make your head spin as you try and keep up with their relationship status.

The post Together Or Broken Up? 16 Celebrity Couples That Keep You Guessing appeared first on www.alloy.com.

D Dipasupil/Getty Images

We have no words. It is with an incredibly heavy heart that we have to report the passing of Tim Bergling, known by many as Avicii. The famed DJ and music producer, who was an incredibly influential artist of our time, has died at the young age of 28. His publicist announced the news of his death, revealing he was found dead this afternoon in Oman.

“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii,” his publicist Diana Baron said in a statement. “He was found dead in Muscat, Oman this Friday afternoon local time, April 20th. The family is devastated and we ask everyone to please respect their need for privacy in this difficult time. No further statements will be given.”

No official cause of death has yet been released, but according to The Hollywood Reporter, Avicii had been dealing with health problems “including acute pancreatitis, in part due to excessive drinking.” He also had his a gallbladder and appendix removed in 2014.

He was known for hits like “Wake Me Up,” “Hey Brother,” and “Levels,” and was just recently nominated for a Billboard Music Award. In his last tweet just a few days ago, he thanked the BBMAS for the nomination.

Avicii had retired from live performing in 2016 due to health reasons. However, in a 2016 interview with THR, he said he was happy about his decision because he now had the time to focus on himself.

“I just feel happy. I feel free at this point. Like I have my private life back and focusing on myself for the first time in a long time,” he said. “This was obviously the hardest decision of my life so far. But so far it has paid off tremendously in terms of well-being for me. I’m happier than I have been in a very very long time. Stress-free more than I have been in a very long time. I can’t say I’m never going to have a show again. I just don’t think I’m going to go back to the touring life.”

The news of his passing is a shock to everyone in the music industry and beyond. Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa, Jersey Shore’s Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, One Direction’s Liam Payne, and more have all reacted via Twitter.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim’s friends and family in this difficult time.

The post Famed DJ And Music Producer Avicii Tragically Dies At Age 28 appeared first on www.alloy.com.

Geffen/Island/Mercury

In recent years, some of the most iconic boy bands from our youth have reunited, bringing performances and full-length albums back to the devoted fans who spent years awaiting this very moment. Hanson is touring again. The Backstreet Boys seem to have no intention of throwing the towel in and even teamed up with fan-favorite New Kids on the Block for a tour in 2011.

Boy bands continue to take the world by storm, and they continue to crush our hearts when they split up. Remember the day 98 Degrees went on their quote un-quote “hiatus”? How about when The Jonas Brothers announced the trio was done for good (and subsequently blamed it on Nick Jonas)? These breakups still sting to think about – no many how many years have passed since the announcement or how many 5 Seconds of Summer and Why Don’t We songs get released. Whether they were a hit band formed on The X-Factor who split to pursue their highly-successful solo careers or a group from way back in the day, there are just some boy band breakup wounds that will never heal.

The post 16 Iconic Boy Band Breakups We’re Still Grieving appeared first on www.alloy.com.

RCA Records

During the past few years, we’ve seen some truly heartbreaking celebrity breakups. 2017 saw the splitsof Hayden Christensen and Rachel Bilson, Kylie Jenner and Tyga, and the worst of them all: Chris Pratt and Anna Faris (still not over it). Then of course, 2016 was the year of the Great Brangelina Split we’ll never forget. 2015, as we all remember, Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield decided they would be going back to being friends after giving love a chance (it was also the year Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani ended their respective relationships).

But, are we crazy to say that 2018 has had the biggest number of shocking and heartbreaking celebrity breakups yet? Couples that we truly thought would be together forever have traded in their his & her towels and covered up their matching tattoos for a shot at single life – again. And while obviously, all we want is for our favorite stars to be happy – with someone or independently – we’re not going to lie and say it doesn’t hurt. The following couples called it quits this year – and the list keeps growing every day. Can’t any celebrity couple convince us that true love exists?

The post 2018 Breakups: A Complete List Of Celebrity Couples Who Called It Quits This Year appeared first on www.alloy.com.