Hayley Williams Honors Gilbert
Paramore Singer Hayley Williams Pays Emotional Tribute Following Ex-Husband Chad Gilbert's Death
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Key Points
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When Williams and Gilbert announced their 2017 separation, they said they remained “close friends who are good in each other’s eyes.”
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Gilbert proposed to Williams on Christmas Day in 2014, and they married in February 2016 after nearly eight years together.
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Gilbert was a founding member of New Found Glory, having played with the band from its formation in 1997 until his death.
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Gilbert and Lisa Cimorelli’s family statement said he considered being a father his greatest accomplishment; the couple shared daughter Lily.
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In their 2017 separation announcement, the former couple described marriage as “not for the faint of heart” and called love “an absolute risk,” offering more context on how they publicly characterized the breakup.
Paramore singer Hayley Williams broke her silence days after the death of her ex-husband Chad Gilbert, the New Found Glory guitarist who died at 45 following a years-long cancer battle. In an Instagram Story, Williams called Gilbert a legend whose influence shaped her musical journey and introduced her to core figures in the music world. NY Daily News reported that Williams initially hesitated to speak publicly because of their estrangement, but ultimately felt compelled to honor his legacy and passion for building community.
Williams and Gilbert dated starting in the late 2000s, married in February 2016 after nearly eight years together, and announced their separation in 2017 while pledging to remain close friends. Gilbert died peacefully on September 20, surrounded by family and friends. He is survived by his current wife Lisa Cimorelli and their daughter Lily, whom he considered his greatest accomplishment according to his family statement.
A Complicated But Meaningful Connection
Williams described her time with Gilbert as transformative, crediting him with teaching her a lot about music, hardcore culture, and the people who shaped the scene. Billboard noted that Williams initially struggled with what to say, calling the moment emotionally difficult. Yet she felt his influence warranted acknowledgment, even years after their marriage ended. Williams emphasized that Gilbert's greatest gift was his passion for fostering genuine community within the music world.
A Decade Together Before Parting Ways
Gilbert proposed to Williams on Christmas Day 2014. The pair married two months later in February 2016. Their split came just one year into marriage when they announced their separation in 2017. At the time, both described the breakup with grace, saying they remained close friends who are good in each other's eyes and philosophized that marriage is not for the faint of heart. Their public statement reflected maturity and mutual respect despite the end of their romantic relationship.
A Founding Member's 27-Year Legacy
Gilbert was a founding member of New Found Glory, playing with the punk-pop band from its formation in 1997 until his death in 2024. Consequence described him as a legend in the scene whose influence extended far beyond his guitar work. His role in shaping the band's sound and trajectory made him a pivotal figure in the emo and pop-punk movements of the early 2000s. Gilbert's 27-year tenure with New Found Glory cemented his place in rock history.
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