Hayley Williams’ former husband was Chad Gilbert, the guitarist and founding member of New Found Glory. Williams and Gilbert married in Nashville on February 20, 2016, after several years together, but announced their separation in July 2017 and later divorced.
The story has gained renewed attention because Gilbert died on September 20, 2026, at age 45. His death was announced by his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, and New Found Glory; Williams and Gilbert had been divorced for years before his death.
Hayley Williams Husband: Who Was Chad Gilbert?
When people search for “Hayley Williams husband,” they are generally referring to Chad Gilbert, the New Found Glory guitarist who was married to the Paramore singer from 2016 until their relationship ended in divorce.
Williams and Gilbert were both prominent figures in the alternative and pop-punk music scene. Williams became internationally known as the lead vocalist of Paramore, while Gilbert built his career as a guitarist, songwriter and founding member of New Found Glory.
Their relationship lasted several years before marriage, but the marriage itself was relatively short. The couple married in February 2016 and publicly announced their separation in July 2017. Their joint statement asked fans to respect their privacy while emphasizing that they intended to remain supportive of one another.
Gilbert’s name is again in the news in September 2026 following his death at age 45. New Found Glory and his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, announced that he died peacefully on September 20, 2026, surrounded by family.
It is important to distinguish that Gilbert was Williams’ former husband, not her current husband.
What Happened Between Hayley Williams and Chad Gilbert?
Hayley Williams and Chad Gilbert had a long relationship before getting married.
The two musicians were together for years before their wedding. Gilbert proposed to Williams on Christmas Day in 2014, and the couple married in February 2016.
Their wedding took place in Nashville, Tennessee, on February 20, 2016. Reports from the time described the ceremony as relatively low-key, with the celebration taking place in Nashville.
The marriage lasted roughly 16 months before the couple announced that they were separating.
On July 1, 2017, Williams and Gilbert issued a joint statement announcing their split. They said they had been together for the better part of a decade and asked the public to respect the personal nature of what they were going through.
Their statement also said they remained close friends and would continue to encourage and support one another personally and professionally.
Key Details
- Hayley Williams: Paramore singer and songwriter
- Former husband: Chad Gilbert
- Gilbert’s band: New Found Glory
- Wedding: February 20, 2016
- Wedding location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Separation announced: July 1, 2017
- Marriage: Approximately 16 months
- Relationship before marriage: Several years
- Current status: Williams and Gilbert were divorced
- Gilbert’s death: September 20, 2026, aged 45
- Gilbert’s later wife: Lisa Cimorelli
- Gilbert’s daughter: Lily
The marriage and divorce dates are documented by contemporary reports, while Gilbert’s death was reported in September 2026 by multiple outlets following confirmation from his family and band.
Who Was Chad Gilbert?
Chad Gilbert was an American musician best known as a founding member and guitarist of New Found Glory, one of the important bands associated with the pop-punk scene.
New Found Glory was formed in Florida in the late 1990s. Gilbert became one of the group’s central musicians and remained involved with the band for decades.
The band’s catalog includes songs such as “My Friends Over You” and “Hit or Miss,” helping establish New Found Glory as a recognizable name in pop-punk.
Gilbert’s career extended beyond performing. He was also involved in songwriting and production and worked with artists and bands outside New Found Glory.
His professional life therefore existed alongside Williams’ career during their relationship. Williams was leading Paramore through major international success, while Gilbert was continuing his work with New Found Glory.
That shared connection to the alternative music world was one reason their relationship attracted significant attention from fans.
When Did Hayley Williams and Chad Gilbert Get Married?
Hayley Williams and Chad Gilbert married on February 20, 2016, in Nashville, Tennessee.
The wedding followed their engagement, which Gilbert announced in December 2014. Contemporary reporting identified the ceremony as a Nashville wedding attended by people from their music circles.
At the time, both musicians were already established performers.
Williams had become internationally famous with Paramore, whose songs included “Misery Business,” “The Only Exception” and “Still Into You.” Gilbert, meanwhile, had built a long career with New Found Glory.
Their marriage was therefore a union between two well-known musicians from the alternative-rock and pop-punk communities.
When Did Hayley Williams and Chad Gilbert Divorce?
The couple announced their separation on July 1, 2017, after approximately 16 months of marriage.
Their statement was notable because they jointly addressed the breakup rather than allowing speculation to define the story. They explained that they had spent much of their adult lives together and asked people not to intrude further into the personal aspects of their separation.
Entertainment Tonight reported at the time that Williams and Gilbert had been together for nearly 10 years and had been married for about 16 months.
The Los Angeles Times later interviewed Williams about the emotional period surrounding her divorce. In that 2020 interview, she discussed how the experience influenced her personal growth and her solo music.
Did Hayley Williams Remarry?
There is no confirmed information that Hayley Williams has married again.
Williams’ relationship with Paramore guitarist Taylor York became public in 2022. Contemporary reporting described Williams and York as confirming their romantic relationship after years of working together in Paramore.
However, being in a relationship is not the same as being married. There has been no reliable confirmation in the sources reviewed for this article that Williams and York married.
That distinction matters because online celebrity searches often mix together terms such as “husband,” “boyfriend,” “partner” and “ex-husband.”
As of the latest reliable information reviewed for this article, Chad Gilbert remains Hayley Williams’ former husband, while there is no confirmed current husband for Williams.
Hayley Williams and Taylor York: What Is Their Relationship?
Taylor York has been part of Paramore’s musical story for many years.
York joined Paramore officially in the late 2000s and became an important guitarist, songwriter and creative collaborator for the band.
In September 2022, Williams and York confirmed that they were dating. The news attracted considerable attention because they had known each other for many years and had worked together creatively.
Their relationship was kept relatively private.
In 2025, Williams’ surprise release of new solo music prompted online speculation about whether her relationship with York had changed. Rolling Stone noted that fans were interpreting some of the lyrics as possible references to a breakup, but the publication also emphasized that the lyrics did not establish the status of the relationship.
Later in 2025, Williams also discussed Paramore’s future and said the band was taking a break rather than breaking up. She continued to speak positively about York and drummer Zac Farro as musicians.
Because Williams has generally kept her personal life private, it is important not to present fan theories about her relationship status as confirmed facts.
What Did Hayley Williams and Chad Gilbert Say About Their Divorce?
Their 2017 joint statement provides the clearest first-hand account of the separation.
Williams and Gilbert described the relationship as something that had lasted through many stages of their lives. They acknowledged the difficulty of ending a marriage while also saying they expected to be okay and wanted to remain supportive of one another.
They also specifically asked fans and the public to respect the personal nature of the situation.
That is important context when discussing their divorce today. Rather than treating rumors surrounding their relationship as established facts, the most reliable account is the one they provided publicly at the time.
How Did the Relationship Affect Hayley Williams’ Music?
Williams’ divorce became an important part of the personal backdrop surrounding her early solo career.
Her first solo album, Petals for Armor, was released in 2020. In interviews around the project, Williams discussed the personal upheaval that preceded the album and described songwriting as part of her process of working through difficult experiences.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Williams discussed her divorce from Gilbert and the emotional experiences surrounding that period.
Vogue also reported that the album emerged from a period of personal upheaval and that Williams approached the solo project differently from her work with Paramore.
Her subsequent solo work continued to explore personal themes, although interpreting individual songs as direct statements about a particular relationship requires caution unless Williams herself confirms the connection.
Chad Gilbert’s 2026 Death
The search for Hayley Williams husband has taken on new relevance in September 2026 because Chad Gilbert died on September 20.
Multiple reports said Gilbert died at age 45. His wife, Lisa Cimorelli, and members of New Found Glory confirmed his death. Reports said he died peacefully in his sleep and was surrounded by loved ones.
Gilbert had been dealing with serious cancer-related health problems for several years, according to reports published after his death. However, the specific circumstances and medical details should be attributed to his family and reputable reporting rather than inferred.
At the time of writing, the significant relationship fact for searches about Williams is that Gilbert was her former husband. They had divorced years before his death.
Gilbert later married singer Lisa Cimorelli in 2020. The couple had a daughter, Lily.
His death therefore concerns a person who was once an important part of Williams’ personal history, but it should not be described as the death of Williams’ current husband.
What Officials or Organizations Said
New Found Glory acknowledged Gilbert’s death and remembered him as a central member of the band’s history. Reports also said his wife Lisa and family confirmed the news.
The band’s tribute emphasized his long contribution to New Found Glory and the role he played in the band’s nearly three-decade history.
Williams and Gilbert’s own 2017 joint statement remains the most direct source concerning their separation. At that time, the former couple asked the public to respect their privacy and said they would continue supporting each other.
There is no need to attribute later rumors about their private relationship to either person unless they were publicly confirmed.
Why This Matters
The phrase “Hayley Williams husband” can be confusing because it can refer to two different questions: who she married in the past and whether she has a husband now.
The factual answer is straightforward:
Chad Gilbert was Hayley Williams’ husband from 2016 until their separation and subsequent divorce. He is not her current husband.
The distinction is particularly important following Gilbert’s death in September 2026.
Williams and Gilbert were major figures in different but overlapping parts of the pop-punk and alternative-rock world. Their relationship lasted for years, their marriage became public news in 2016, and their divorce became part of Williams’ personal and creative history.
At the same time, Williams’ later relationship with Taylor York is separate from her marriage to Gilbert.
What Happens Next?
There is no confirmed indication that Williams and Gilbert’s past relationship will result in a new public statement from Williams.
Following Gilbert’s death, his family, wife and bandmates have been publicly acknowledging his life and career. Reports have emphasized the family’s desire to remember him while maintaining appropriate privacy.
For Hayley Williams, her most recent major musical developments have centered on her solo work and Paramore.
In 2025, Williams released the solo album Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, while Paramore confirmed that the band was taking a break rather than ending permanently.
There is currently no verified announcement that Williams has married again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Hayley Williams’ husband?
Hayley Williams’ former husband was Chad Gilbert, guitarist and founding member of New Found Glory. They married in February 2016 and later divorced.
Is Hayley Williams currently married?
There is no confirmed evidence in the reliable sources reviewed that Hayley Williams is currently married.
When did Hayley Williams marry Chad Gilbert?
Williams and Gilbert married on February 20, 2016, in Nashville, Tennessee.
When did Hayley Williams and Chad Gilbert divorce?
They announced their separation on July 1, 2017, after approximately 16 months of marriage.
Why did Hayley Williams and Chad Gilbert split?
The couple did not provide a detailed public explanation for every private aspect of their separation. In their joint 2017 statement, they said they had decided to split and asked the public to respect their privacy.
Who is Taylor York to Hayley Williams?
Taylor York is Hayley Williams’ longtime Paramore bandmate and former confirmed romantic partner. The two confirmed their relationship publicly in 2022.
Did Hayley Williams and Taylor York get married?
There is no reliable confirmation in the sources reviewed that Hayley Williams and Taylor York married.
What happened to Chad Gilbert in 2026?
Chad Gilbert died on September 20, 2026, at age 45, according to reports citing his wife Lisa Cimorelli and New Found Glory.
