How grief changed Cheryl’s ‘perspective on life’ and taught her to ‘love more’ – as she does all she can to protect Bear after Liam Payne’s death

Cheryl has been silently dealing with her grief as the world mourns the loss of her ex Liam Payne.

While her romantic relationship with the singer ended in 2018, the pair formed a lifelong bond through their son Bear, and Cheryl was said to be ‘devastated’ as she attended Liam’s funeral on Wednesday.

Tragically, Cheryl is no stranger to grief, having lost her childhood friend, aspiring footballer John Courtney, to a heroin overdose in 2005 and more recently her Girls Aloud bandmate Sarah Harding.

Sarah was 39 when she lost her battle with breast cancer in September 2021, leaving loved ones and her fans bereft.

Cheryl previously revealed how Sarah’s death meant she doesn’t take any days for granted, as she explained how grief had changed her outlook on life.

She told MailOnline last year: ‘A lot of the conversations we had before she left really gave me a different perspective and I will continue to do that.’

While Cheryl’s romantic relationship with Liam ended in 2018 (pictured), the pair formed a lifelong bond through their son Bear, and Cheryl was ‘devastated’ as she attended Liam’s funeral.

Tragically, Cheryl is no stranger to grief, having lost Girls Aloud bandmate Sarah Harding to breast cancer in September 2021 (pictured together in 2003)

“She wasn’t ready to leave and I’m thinking, ‘well, I’m still here,'” Cheryl explained. “I have the gift of life to still live, and I will do it with her in mind. It changes a lot of things in your own heart.”

She told how Sarah’s death brought her closer to bandmates Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyle and Kimberley Walsh, and continued: ‘The loss and our age has made us appreciate and love each other so much more.

‘We have always loved each other, of course. But it’s just different, there’s a different depth to it now.’

Cheryl met Sarah twenty years ago when they beat several thousand other contestants to win a place on ITV’s Popstars: The Rivals.

It was that show that launched Girls Aloud, with the group scoring four number one singles and two number one albums.

While Sarah began an acting career, landing roles in St Trinian’s films and Coronation Street, Cheryl’s next step was to launch a solo career and later a judging role on The X Factor.

There she met Liam, who, like Cheryl, found fame in a televised band when he was placed in One Direction.

While the pair initially crossed paths on the hit talent show in 2008, it wasn’t until 2016 that their relationship began.

Cheryl also lost one of her childhood friends, aspiring footballer John Courtney (pictured), who died from a heroin overdose in 2005.

The Promise This singer walked behind Liam’s coffin after a moving private service attended by family members and a host of stars from the worlds of music and sports

In March 2017, the couple welcomed son Bear, but parenthood created rifts in their relationship that could not be overcome and 14 months after Bear was born, the couple announced their divorce.

The pair remained in each other’s lives as they raised their only child together before Liam’s tragic death last month.

Liam – who died after falling 13 meters from a third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palmero Hotel in Argentina – was honored by the singer at his funeral on Wednesday.

It is understood that Cheryl, who was supported at the service by her Girls Alound bandmates Kimberley and Nicola, is ‘terribly sad’ about Liam’s death and is struggling with her own grief, while being strong for her son.

Looking to the future, she will do everything she can to ensure Bear never forgets his father, but on Wednesday the focus was very much on giving Liam a loving and dignified farewell.

It is believed that Cheryl, who left the service with Liam’s parents, helped his family plan the funeral.

The Promise This singer walked behind the coffin of her ex after a moving private service, attended by family members and a large number of stars from the music and sports world.

Solemn in funereal black were Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan – the four men Liam grew up with and shared his rise to stardom with.

In March 2017, Liam and Cheryl welcomed son Bear, but announced their separation fourteen months later. The couple remained in each other’s lives while co-parenting their only child

Last month, Cheryl paid tribute to Liam in an Instagram post and spoke of her ‘indescribable pain’ when she told Bear that his father had passed away.

Her statement read: “As I try to navigate this earth-shattering event and process my own grief during this indescribably painful time.

“I would like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being.

‘Liam wasn’t just a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a good friend and a father to our seven-year-old son.

‘A son who now has to face the reality that he will never see his father again.’