In celebration of HELLO!'s 30th anniversary, we're taking a look at some of our most popular covers. One memorable issue featured Cheryl, who at the time was still Cheryl Fernandez-Versini. The former Girls Aloud pop star had surprised fans by announcing her decision to quit The X Factor, the show that had made her the nation's sweetheart.
With her handsome boyfriend Liam Payne by her side in the cosy love nest they had created at his Los Angeles home, Cheryl revealed that she was relaunching her music career. Not only had Liam shown her how to love again following Cheryl's split from her husband Jean-Bernard in 2015, the One Direction star also helped reignite her passion for music.
© Photo: HELLO!Cheryl starred on our cover in April 2016
"Cheryl has had an incredible reign as one of the most popular women in television," a friend of the singer said. "But for now she just wants to concentrate on her music career and is looking forward to a new chapter in her life. She is at a great point in her life – she is blissfully happy in her relationship with Liam and she is also very happy with the way her career is going and really excited about the future."
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Another source said: "Liam has given [Cheryl's] music career a massive confidence boost. He is a great songwriter and they are really encouraging each other with their music. They are living together in his house in Los Angeles at the moment and are with each other 24/7."
Despite concerns when Cheryl and Liam first got together – she had recently split from her husband of just 18 months and there is an age gap of nearly ten years – the couple continued to defy critics and fell ever deeper in love. They welcomed a baby boy together, a son Bear, in March 2017.
Cheryl and Liam have recently been hit by a fresh round of split claims, but the mother-of-one continues to quash reports. Last month she took to Twitter to respond to a story about Liam and a 'mystery woman'. Cheryl wrote: "I usually don't bother myself to respond to stupid articles. But in my silence they hold the pen. This is a stupid article, clutching at very small straws. But I can't ignore this story involving an innocent dancer colleague of Liam's who has a fiancé, and dragging them into this desperate attempt to try and cause problems between Liam and I."
