Hayley Williams pays tribute to late ex-husband, New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert: “His influence and attitude guided the genre forward”

Hayley Williams has paid tribute to her ex-husband, New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert, after he passed away aged 45.

READ MORE: Hayley Williams: “Women’s rage has been such a catalyst for beautiful things” Gilbert died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday morning (September 20) , following a five-year battle with cancer.

Williams, who was married to Gilbert from 2016 to 2017, has now shared a message reflecting on the influence he had on her life and her relationship with the hardcore and pop-punk communities.

“Have not known what to say or if it’s appropriate,” she wrote on her Instagram Story today (September 23).

“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.” “Chad is indeed a legend in the scene and my time connected to him taught me a lot,” Williams continued.

“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.” She went on to celebrate Gilbert’s impact on the scene he helped shape with New Found Glory, writing: “There isn’t much that hasn’t already been said about what he contributed to the musical world a lot of us grew up in.

His influence and attitude guided the genre forward.

His passion for fostering the community was inspiring and sticks with me.” Hayley posted a note following Chad Gilbert’s death pic.twitter.com/6FJUIPVqFM — Paramore-Music.com (@paramoremusicom) September 23, 2026 Williams added: “I will forever be grateful that from him I gained a deeper understanding and a reverence for the community and the culture of hardcore.

“Sending love and my sympathies to his family, NFG fam, and all his friends.” Williams and Gilbert began dating in 2008 and married in Tennessee in February 2016 .

They announced their separation in July the following year , saying at the time that they remained “close friends who are good in each other’s eyes”.

Williams subsequently explored the relationship and its breakdown across her songwriting.

Paramore’s 2017 album ‘After Laughter’ was written amid their separation, while her 2020 solo track ‘Dead Horse’ dealt more explicitly with their history.

Speaking to NME about ‘Dead Horse’ , Williams said she had initially resisted writing so directly about her past.

“I did not want to write about my past that way,” she said.