Article continues below advertisementSimon Cowell is opening up about the untimely death of Liam Payne at age 31.In a new interview, the American Idol alum shared that the news of Payne's tragic passing in 2024 "really hit" him.Cowell, 66, signed Payne to his record label in 2010 after his audition on Britain's The X Factor. He was just 16 at the time.Article continues below advertisementSimon Cowell Says Liam Payne Seemed 'in a Really Good Place' Before Death Source: megaSimon Cowell signed the former One Direction star to his music label in 2010."I saw him a year before this happened.