Hayley Williams Honors Ex-Husband Chad Gilbert After His Death at 45

Hayley Williams has broken her silence following the death of her ex-husband, Chad Gilbert, the guitarist and founding member of New Found Glory. Gilbert passed away on September 20 at the age of 45 after a battle with cancer.

Williams, 37, shared a message on her Instagram stories, stating, "Have not known what to say or if it's appropriate. But I feel sure now that I want to bc life is made of the paths we cross and the reasons we cross them are infinite."

She called Gilbert "a legend in the scene" and reflected on how her time connected to him taught her a great deal. "He introduced me to people that continue to shape my life in beautiful ways, and to music and culture that has made life a lot richer," Williams wrote.

Williams acknowledged Gilbert's significant contributions to the music world, noting that the punk genre advanced due to his "influence and attitude." She added that his passion for fostering the community was inspiring and stayed with her. "I will forever be grateful that from him I gained a deeper understanding and a reverence for the community and the culture of hardcore," she concluded, sending love and sympathies to his family, the New Found Glory family, and his friends.

Williams and Gilbert began dating in 2008 and became engaged in 2014, marrying in early 2016. They announced their separation in 2017, and their divorce was finalized later that same year. Williams has previously spoken about battling depression following their divorce and seeking inpatient treatment.

Gilbert's former bandmates announced his death on Instagram, stating he passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family and friends. "The amount of visitors that crowded the hospital lobby at a moment's notice is a testament to how beloved and cherished Chad was, and always will be," the post read.

They described him as a "husband and father" whose "biggest dreams came true," and credited his "guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive" for shaping New Found Glory for nearly three decades. "While we are devastated to lose him, we are so grateful for the incredible life he lived, the memories we shared, and the brotherhood we had," the bandmates wrote. "His influence will always be part of New Found Glory and his spirit will be felt on every stage we stand on, with every note we play."

Gilbert's battle with cancer began in 2021 when he was diagnosed with a rare adrenal gland cancer called pheochromocytoma. After surgery to remove a large tumor and part of his liver and gallbladder, he was declared cancer-free the following month. However, the cancer returned in his spine in August 2022, requiring another operation. In the year prior to his death, he began chemotherapy treatments after nodules were discovered in his lungs.

In June, Gilbert made a tearful return to the stage in a wheelchair for his first show in Nashville since his diagnosis. He had previously struggled with controlling the movements in his left hand, leading to hospitalization where doctors discovered three new tumors in his brain. He underwent surgery and regained function in his hand.