Hayley Williams has shared an emotional tribute to her former husband, New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert, following his death at the age of 45. The Paramore frontwoman reflected on Gilbert’s influence on her life, his place within the punk and hardcore community, and the relationships and music she discovered during the years they spent together.
Gilbert died peacefully in his sleep on September 20, surrounded by family and friends, according to a statement shared by his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, and New Found Glory. His wife and mother were with him during his final moments. Gilbert had undergone years of cancer treatment and revealed earlier in 2026 that his diagnosis had been revised to stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma.
Hayley Williams Shares Tribute to Chad Gilbert
Williams addressed Gilbert’s death in a statement posted to her Instagram Stories.
She acknowledged that she had initially been unsure whether it was appropriate for her to say anything publicly because their relationship had ended years earlier. Ultimately, however, she decided that Gilbert’s importance to her life and the music community deserved recognition.
Williams described Gilbert as “indeed a legend in the scene” and reflected on how much she learned through knowing him.
Rather than focusing heavily on their marriage or its ending, her message centered on gratitude. Williams said Gilbert introduced her to people who continue to have a positive influence on her life as well as music and culture that expanded her world.
The tone made the tribute less about revisiting a former romance and more about recognizing the lasting effect one person can have on another, even after their lives have moved in separate directions.
His Influence on Punk and Hardcore Music
One of the strongest themes in Williams’ statement was Gilbert’s connection to the hardcore and punk communities.
She credited him with giving her a deeper understanding of that culture and expressed gratitude for what she learned from him about the scene.
Williams also noted that Gilbert’s influence helped move the genre forward. His impact was not limited to playing guitar in New Found Glory. He was closely associated with a wider community of musicians, fans and bands that helped punk and pop-punk grow from local scenes into a much larger movement.
For Williams, that sense of community appears to be one of the most important things Gilbert left behind.
She remembered his enthusiasm for supporting the people around him and the culture he helped build, describing that influence as something that continued to stay with her long after their relationship ended.
Chad Gilbert’s Cancer Battle
Gilbert had been dealing with serious health problems for several years before his death.
His major cancer battle began in 2021 when doctors discovered a rare tumor involving his adrenal gland. He underwent numerous procedures and treatments over the following years as additional tumors were discovered.
His health became particularly challenging in early 2026. Doctors found three tumors in his brain, leading to emergency surgery.
Gilbert later revealed that doctors had revised his diagnosis from metastatic pheochromocytoma to stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare and aggressive adrenal cancer.
Despite the severity of his condition, he remained connected to music.
In June, Gilbert made an emotional return to the stage with New Found Glory in Nashville. He performed using a motorized scooter and later spoke about how meaningful it had been to play in front of his daughter, Lily.
It became one of his final major public performances.
Chad Gilbert’s Legacy With New Found Glory
Gilbert helped form New Found Glory in Florida in 1997 and remained one of the defining members of the band for nearly three decades.
The group became an important part of the late 1990s and early 2000s pop-punk movement, building a loyal following before achieving wider success with albums including Sticks and Stones.
Songs such as “My Friends Over You,” “Hit or Miss” and “All Downhill From Here” became closely associated with the band’s sound and helped New Found Glory develop an influence that extended to a younger generation of pop-punk musicians.
Gilbert contributed as a guitarist, songwriter and backing vocalist throughout the group’s career. He also worked beyond New Found Glory, including his involvement with hardcore band Shai Hulud and other musical projects.
His importance to the scene is part of what Williams emphasized in her tribute. She viewed his legacy not simply through their personal history but through the music, community and culture he helped nurture.
Hayley Williams and Chad Gilbert’s Relationship
Williams and Gilbert’s relationship stretched across much of their young adult lives.
They began dating in the late 2000s and eventually became engaged before marrying in February 2016. Their marriage lasted a little over a year, with the couple announcing their separation in July 2017.
Their lives went in different directions afterward.
Gilbert later developed a relationship with musician Lisa Cimorelli. They married in 2020 and welcomed their daughter, Lily, in 2021.
Williams’ tribute did not attempt to rewrite the complicated history between herself and Gilbert. Instead, she acknowledged that relationships can leave meaningful influences behind even when they do not last.
That perspective gave her statement a notably personal quality while keeping the focus on Gilbert’s life and legacy.
Gilbert’s Family Remembers Him as a Husband and Father
Although fans knew Gilbert primarily through his work with New Found Glory, his family’s statement emphasized another side of his life.
Gilbert’s loved ones said his favorite achievement was becoming a husband and father. They described those roles as the fulfillment of some of his biggest dreams.
He died with his wife Lisa and his mother at his side, while friends and relatives had gathered around him during his final hours.
Gilbert is survived by Lisa, their daughter Lily, his mother Jackie and his brother Brian.
Hayley Williams Remembers a Lasting Musical Influence
The Hayley Williams tribute to Chad Gilbert ultimately reflects both personal history and musical respect.
Williams did not ignore the fact that many years had passed since their divorce. Her hesitation about speaking publicly formed part of the message itself. But she also made clear that the end of their marriage did not erase everything she learned during their years together.
For Williams, Gilbert helped open the door to musicians, friendships and subcultures that continued influencing her long after their relationship ended.
Her tribute joins messages from musicians, friends, bandmates and fans remembering Gilbert not only as New Found Glory’s longtime guitarist, but as someone who helped shape the punk and hardcore community around him.
That musical influence, as Williams made clear, is something she expects to carry with her.
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