Nicole Scherzinger pays tribute to Liam Payne after texting him on the day of his death

• Nicole Scherzinger paid tribute to Liam Payne on Friday, October 25, following the star's death on Wednesday, October 16
• Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed that Scherzinger had texted Payne on the day of his death
• Payne died after a multi-story fall at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Nicole Scherzinger honors Liam Payne following his death at age 31.

On Friday, October 25, the 46-year-old singer penned an emotional Instagram tribute to Payne, who died on Wednesday, October 16, after falling from a balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina . According to ABC News, sources confirmed that a partial autopsy revealed the star “had multiple substances in his system.”

Alongside Simon Cowell, Scherzinger is credited with forming Payne's boy band One Direction in the 2010 season The X Factor.

“Dear Liam, I will forever cherish and cherish the time we spent together, from fifteen years ago when One Direction was born to just a few weeks ago,” Scherzinger wrote alongside two photos of her, Payne and Kelly Rowland, 43.

She added: “It was a great blessing to work with you recently. We shared the same love and passion for music and I will always remember the meaningful and joyful conversations we had.”

“It's been so hard to process that you're no longer here, but I'm grateful to have known your kind heart, sweet soul and character,” the former Pussycat Dolls star continued.

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“You brought so much joy, light and laughter into the lives of those who truly knew you,” she wrote, concluding, “I will 'miss' you, my friend, and carry you in my heart. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. 🙏🏽♥️.”

In August, it was announced that Scherzinger, Rowland and Payne would star in the new Netflix series alongside AJ McLean Building the band.

It was reported that Scherzinger would serve as mentor and judge, while Payne and Rowland would serve as judges.

Scherzinger also paid her respects Good morning America on Friday, Oct 25

“Liam and I were pretty close, especially because we recently did a show together on Netflix called Building the Band,” she said. “And so, yeah, I’m heartbroken. I’m heartbroken for Liam, heartbroken for his family and his loved ones and his friends.”

She added: “Liam always led with heart and kindness and I truly hope he will always be remembered.”

Scherzinger's tribute comes after composer Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed it in an interview with billboard that the artist had texted Payne on the day of his death.

“I suppose something that hasn't been said, and I guess I could say, is that of course she looked after Liam (Payne) from One Direction,” Webber – who composed the music for Scherzinger's Broadway musical Sunset Blvd. – said.

“On the Wednesday when he died, she was still texting him, and (that evening) the reviewers came in SUNSET), she had just found out he had died,” he added. “And the fact that she even did the show is extraordinary.”

The musician continued: “I mean, she's an amazing, amazing woman. She is without question one of the best artists I have ever worked with.”

PEOPLE has reached out to Scherzinger's representatives for comment.