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New Found Glory Guitarist Chad Gilbert Dead at 45 After Health Battle
Hayley Williams is paying tribute to her late ex-husband Chad Gilbert.
The Paramore singer spoke out three days after the New Found Glory guitarist died at age 45 following a battle with cancer, sharing that she had "not known what to say or if it’s appropriate" in the wake of his passing.
"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," Williams—who was with Gilbert for nearly 10 years before their 2017 breakup—wrote in a Sept. 23 Instagram Story. "Chad is indeed a legend in the scene and my time connected to him taught me a lot. 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."
“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," she continued. "His influence and attitude guided the genre forward. His passion for fostering the community was inspiring and sticks with me."
Sending her condolences to Gilbert's family and friends—including his bandmates Jordan Pundik, Cyrus Bolooki and Ian Grushka—the 37-year-old 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."
Williams was first linked to Gilbert in 2007, when he was still legally married to Eisley frontwoman Sherri DuPree. The pair tied the knot in 2016, but called it quits the following year.
Their relationship served as inspiration behind several of Williams' hit songs, including her 2020 solo track "Dead Horse."
"In 'Dead Horse' I admit to having an affair—that’s how I got into my longest relationship," she shared in a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone. "I felt shame for all of my 20s about it, but being able to admit it made it less scary. It didn’t own me anymore. It gives people a chance to actually know me and decide if they like me or not."
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for PCA
For his part, Gilbert—who denied cheating allegations amid his breakup with DuPree—went on to marry singer Lisa Cimorelli in 2020 following his divorce from Williams. The couple welcomed daughter Lily in 2021, the same year he was diagnosed with cancer.
“On the morning of September 20th, Chad Everett Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep," Cimorelli wrote on Instagram after his death. “He left this world surrounded by friends and family and took his final breaths with his wife and mother by his side, just as he wished.”
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