Louis Tomlinson admits he doubted most One Direction solos would succeed

Louis Tomlinson has spoken about the uncertainty he felt when One Direction went on hiatus, saying he initially believed only two members would thrive as solo artists.

In remarks cited by the report, Tomlinson said he expected Harry Styles and Niall Horan to find the most success after the group’s 2016 split, adding that it is common for just one or two members of a major band to break through on their own.

He described feeling anxious that his own solo career might never match the scale of fame he experienced with the group, which also included Zayn Malik and Liam Payne. Tomlinson said he always saw Styles as having the full package to excel in music and spoke warmly of Horan’s likability and broad appeal.

Reflecting on the transition, he said the end of the band felt intimidating and that he did not picture himself becoming one of the successful solo acts. Even so, the singer has continued building momentum, with the report noting he is set to release a third album titled How Did I Get Here later this month.

He is also scheduled to headline Madison Square Garden in New York in July—an achievement he said he never imagined reaching alone. Tomlinson additionally shared that he never particularly enjoyed performing One Direction’s early breakout hit What Makes You Beautiful, describing it as a challenging track for him on stage.