"Hayley Williams’ Emotional Tribute to Chad Gilbert: What She Revealed Will Leave You Speechless!"
Added on September 24, 2026 inFree CelebrityNews, Free Entertainment News
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On September 20, the world lost a significant figure in the music scene—Chad Gilbert, the guitarist of New Found Glory, tragically passed away at the age of 45 after a lengthy battle with brain cancer. As the stars align and we navigate these heavy vibes, Hayley Williams, known for her role as the lead vocalist of Paramore, took a heartfelt moment to pay tribute to her late ex-husband. In a poignant Instagram post, she shared insights that go beyond the typical eulogy, highlighting the complex relationship they shared and the profound impact he had on both her life and the music world. With her words echoing through the ages, we are reminded of the powerful connections we forge in life—and the legacy left behind. Join me as we delve into Hayley’s touching tribute and celebrate the influence Chad had on the multitude of souls who followed in his wake.
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Hayley Williams is paying her respects to her late ex-husband.
On Sunday, September 20, New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert passed away.
He was only 45.
Williams has found the words to pay tribute to the complicated man who influenced her and an entire genre of music.
Taking to her Instagram Story on Wednesday, September 23, Hayley Williams spoke about her ex-husband’s passing.
“Have not known what to say or if it’s appropriate,” the Paramore lead vocalist began the text post.
“But,” Williams continued, “I feel sure now that I want to [because] life is made of the paths we cross and the reasons we cross them are infinite.”
She affirmed: “Chad is indeed a legend in the scene.”
Williams continued: “And my time connected to him taught me a lot.”
“He introduced me to people that continue to shape my life in beautiful ways,” Williams wrote of her ex-husband.
“And,” she added, “to music and culture that has made life a lot richer.”
Continuing to speak of Gilbert, Williams acknowledged that “there isn’t much that hasn’t already been said about what contributed to the musical world a lot of us grew up in.”
She praised: “His influence and attitude guided the genre forward.”
Williams added: “His passion for fostering the community was inspiring and sticks with me.”
“I will forever be grateful that, from him, I gained a deeper understanding and a reverence for the community and the culture of hardcore,” Hayley Williams expressed in her tribute.
She is keenly aware that she is not the only one grieving him.
Williams sent her “love and my sympathies” to Gilbert’s family, to his New Found Glory bandmates, and to “all his friends.”
Gilbert is survived by his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, and their 5-year-old daughter, Lily.
All things considered, Williams did not have to leave such a generous and warm tribute to the ex who dated her when she was 18 and then cheated on her. But it is very kind that she did.
Chad Gilbert began dating Williams when she was in her late teens. They would remain in a relationship for about a decade before marrying.
Their 2016 marriage only lasted until 2017, however.
Gilbert remarried in 2020 to Cimorelli.
On Sunday, September 20, he passed away after a battle with brain cancer.
He’d had a cancer scare with his thyroid back in 2010, and had spent the past half-decade fighting for his life against a new cancer battle centered upon his brain.
Like Williams, our thoughts are with Gilbert’s loved ones at this time of grief.
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