Los Angeles: Chad Gilbert, founding guitarist and backing vocalist of the influential pop-punk band New Found Glory, has died at the age of 45.
Gilbert’s death was confirmed by New Found Glory and his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, in a joint statement shared on social media. According to the statement, Gilbert died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of September 20, surrounded by family and friends, with his wife and mother by his side.
The statement described the musician as deeply loved by those around him and said that although his family was devastated by how quickly he died, they were grateful that his final moments were peaceful.
A cause of death was not announced. Gilbert had publicly discussed his long battle with cancer and serious health complications in recent years.
Chad Gilbert’s Family Confirms His Death
In their statement, Gilbert’s family and bandmates remembered him not only for his career in music but also for his role as a husband and father.
“He was a legendary musician, but his favorite accomplishment was being a husband and father,” the statement said. “His biggest dreams came true.”
The statement also noted the large number of people who came to the hospital after learning that Gilbert’s condition had worsened, describing the response as a reflection of how cherished he was by friends, family and those close to him.
Gilbert is survived by his wife Lisa, daughter Lily, mother Jackie and brother Brian.
Chad Gilbert Had Been Battling Cancer
Gilbert had spoken publicly about his health struggles for years.
According to reports, he had previously undergone treatment for a rare form of adrenal cancer. In early 2026, he told People that doctors had discovered three brain tumors and that he had subsequently been diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma.
The musician continued to discuss his family and personal life while dealing with his illness. However, his family did not identify a specific cause of death in the announcement of his passing.
Chad Gilbert’s New Found Glory Career
Gilbert was one of the founding members of New Found Glory, helping establish the band in Florida in 1997.
The original lineup included Gilbert, vocalist Jordan Pundik, bassist Ian Grushka, guitarist Steve Klein and drummer Joe Marino, who was later replaced by Cyrus Bolooki.
Gilbert played guitar and provided backing vocals throughout the band’s career, appearing on its albums beginning with its 1999 debut, Nothing Gold Can Stay.
His work with the band continued through its 2026 album, Listen Up!, the group’s 11th studio album.
New Found Glory Became a Pop-Punk Mainstay
New Found Glory became one of the prominent bands associated with the late-1990s and early-2000s pop-punk and pop-rock movement.
The group achieved a major mainstream breakthrough with its 2002 album Sticks and Stones. Its single “My Friends Over You” became one of New Found Glory’s best-known songs and reached No. 85 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The band’s music and energetic live performances helped establish New Found Glory as an enduring act within the pop-punk scene.
Gilbert Started New Found Glory as a Teenager
Gilbert grew up in Coral Springs, Florida, where he played in several bands before forming New Found Glory.
He later recalled that the band’s origins were closely tied to a sense of community among young people who felt like outsiders.
“We were all the weirdos with dyed hair, and we didn’t care who you were or what you looked like—you just belonged,” Gilbert told New Noise in an interview earlier in 2026.
“We started this band because we wanted to keep feeling like we belonged,” he added.
Gilbert left high school after the 11th grade after New Found Glory signed with Drive-Thru Records, choosing to pursue music as the band’s career developed.
Other Bands and Musical Projects
New Found Glory was not Gilbert’s only musical project.
He also performed with Shai Hulud and was involved in International Superheroes of Hardcore, a hardcore punk side project associated with New Found Glory.
His work across pop-punk and hardcore allowed him to remain connected to different corners of the alternative music community throughout his career.
Chad Gilbert and Hayley Williams
Gilbert was previously married to Paramore singer Hayley Williams.
The pair began their relationship in 2007. Before their relationship, Gilbert had been married to Sherri DuPree, vocalist of the indie-rock band Eisley; that marriage ended in divorce in 2008.
Gilbert and Williams became engaged in 2014 and married in 2016. Their marriage ended with a separation in 2017.
Gilbert later married Lisa Cimorelli, with whom he had daughter Lily.
New Found Glory Fans Mourn Chad Gilbert
Gilbert’s death marks the loss of one of the musicians closely associated with the development and longevity of modern pop-punk.
Through New Found Glory’s albums, touring career and side projects, he remained active in the genre for nearly three decades.
While his musical legacy is tied to some of the defining pop-punk records of the era, the statement from his family emphasized a more personal part of his life: his identity as a husband and father.
Chad Gilbert was 45.
