Niall Horan talks about one teacher who changed his life

Niall Horan may be one of the world’s biggest Irish pop stars, but he hasn’t forgotten the small-town roots and the person behind his stardom.

During an appearance on Drop A Pin, the former One Direction star opened up about growing up in Mullingar, Ireland, and the powerful influence his hometown had on his love of music.

“I carry a piece of my hometown everywhere I go around the world,” he said, proudly adding, “I love being the Irish fella.”

For the This Town hitmaker, music was part of the fabric of growing up in Ireland.

He recalled being surrounded by the country’s strong connection to music, poetry and the arts, saying that environment helped inspire him to pursue music from an early age.

But one person in particular played an unexpected role in turning that passion into a career.

The Slow Hands singer revealed that he initially wasn’t planning to audition for The X Factor.

His teacher, however, had other plans. She signed him up for the show herself, filling out the application for him, a decision that would ultimately change the course of his life.

“I wasn't gonna do it and she filled in the form for me and here we are 16 years later,” The Voice judge recalled.

Horan, 32, has gone from a teenager in Mullingar to an internationally recognised singer, first finding global fame with One Direction before building a successful solo career.