Chad Gilbert is an American musician whose name is most closely associated with New Found Glory, the influential pop-punk group formed in Coral Springs, Florida, in 1997. As the band’s guitarist and backing vocalist, he helped shape songs including “My Friends Over You” and “All Downhill From Here,” tracks that helped establish New Found Glory as a durable fixture of early-2000s pop-punk.
Interest in Gilbert also extends to his production work, his side project What’s Eating Gilbert, his previous marriage to Paramore singer Hayley Williams, and his publicly documented cancer treatment. Much of his early family life and education has not been extensively disclosed in reliable public sources, so this article focuses on his verified musical work and public statements.
Quick Bio
Who Is Chad Gilbert?
Chad Gilbert is principally known as the guitarist in New Found Glory, a band that moved from South Florida’s DIY punk scene to a major-label audience at the start of the 2000s. The group’s original identity rested on fast guitar riffs, melodic choruses and energetic touring, and Gilbert became a central creative voice within that framework.
New Found Glory’s self-titled 2000 album introduced the band to a much wider audience, but 2002’s Sticks and Stones became a defining release. Its single “My Friends Over You” was particularly important: Gilbert has said he wrote its guitar riff at the last moment, when the band believed the album was already finished. The song became one of the band’s signature tracks and gave the group a lasting place in the pop-punk canon.
Early Career and New Found Glory
Publicly available reporting identifies New Found Glory as Gilbert’s defining professional home. The band formed in Coral Springs in 1997, initially operating under the name A New Found Glory. Its early line-up included Gilbert on guitar, Jordan Pundik on vocals, Ian Grushka on bass and other early members. The long-running core lineup of Pundik, Gilbert, Grushka and drummer Cyrus Bolooki has sustained the group for decades.
The early years were self-funded and rooted in local shows. Gilbert has recalled that the members were still young and working ordinary jobs while putting money towards their first full-length album, Nothing Gold Can Stay in 1999. He worked at a cinema at the time. That DIY experience mattered: the band booked shows, built contacts through touring and developed an audience before major-label distribution arrived.
Their 2000 self-titled album was released after they shortened their name to New Found Glory. Gilbert explained that the practical reason was cataloguing: some shops filed “A New Found Glory” under “A,” while others put it under “N.” Fans were already using the abbreviation NFG, so the band adopted the simpler name.
Chad Gilbert’s Career With New Found Glory
The Pop-Punk Breakthrough
New Found Glory’s most significant commercial and cultural breakthrough came during the early 2000s. The band’s 2000 self-titled record was followed by Sticks and Stones in 2002 and Catalyst in 2004. The group’s combination of hardcore-informed guitar playing and highly melodic choruses helped it appeal both to punk audiences and to the broader MTV-era pop-punk audience.
“My Friends Over You” gave the band a major singalong anthem, while “All Downhill From Here” from Catalyst became another defining track. Gilbert has described writing the latter’s central riff in his head while travelling to a late songwriting session, then quickly turning it into a finished song with the group. He also recalled that its animated video had an extended run on MTV’s Total Request Live.
These stories illustrate an important element of Gilbert’s role: he has been more than a touring guitarist. His riff writing has repeatedly supplied musical starting points for major New Found Glory songs.
Evolving Without Abandoning the Band’s Identity
The group did not simply repeat the formula of its early releases. Coming Home in 2006 took a more melodic and reflective direction. Gilbert later described it as an effort to demonstrate that the band could write songs beyond a narrow genre template, even though some listeners initially reacted less warmly than they had to the band’s louder records.
New Found Glory continued with albums including Not Without a Fight in 2009, Radiosurgery in 2011, Resurrection in 2014, Makes Me Sick in 2017 and Forever + Ever x Infinity in 2020. The longevity is notable in a genre where many contemporaries dissolved or became inactive. Rather than depending solely on nostalgia tours, the band has continued writing and releasing new music.
The group’s more recent work also connects Gilbert’s personal circumstances with the band’s songwriting. Listen Up! is the band’s 11th studio album and its first release through Pure Noise Records. Gilbert worked on the material with his bandmates at his Nashville-area home, returning to a riff-focused collaborative process.
Production and Side Projects
Gilbert’s musical work extends beyond New Found Glory. He was previously involved with the hardcore band Shai Hulud and later fronted the tongue-in-cheek side project International Superheroes of Hardcore. These projects show the stronger hardcore roots beneath New Found Glory’s pop-punk accessibility.
He also created What’s Eating Gilbert, a solo project that shifted towards power-pop and classic pop-rock influences. The project’s debut album, That New Sound You’re Looking For, arrived in 2015. What’s Eating Gilbert gave him an opportunity to explore a sound distinct from the faster, heavier style usually associated with New Found Glory.
As a producer, Gilbert has worked with other rock acts, including A Day to Remember. In a 2009 interview, the band discussed choosing Gilbert because of both his New Found Glory profile and his hardcore background, and credited his production contribution to their recording process. His production work matters because it places him not only within one successful band but also within the wider creative infrastructure of modern rock and pop-punk.
Major Works and Achievements
Gilbert’s most important professional achievements are closely tied to New Found Glory’s catalogue and durability:
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Helping establish New Found Glory as a leading act in the 2000s pop-punk wave.
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Contributing guitar writing to enduring songs such as “My Friends Over You” and “All Downhill From Here.”
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Taking part in the band’s transition from self-funded Florida releases to major-label albums and international touring.
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Maintaining a creative presence across New Found Glory’s evolving catalogue rather than being associated with one short commercial period.
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Developing parallel work as a producer and through What’s Eating Gilbert.
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Releasing New Found Glory’s 11th studio album, Listen Up!, on 20 February 2026 through Pure Noise Records.
Personal Life and Public Relationships
Gilbert’s personal life has attracted public attention largely because of his marriages to fellow musicians. He was previously married to Eisley musician Sherri DuPree in 2007. He later married Hayley Williams, the singer of Paramore, in 2016.
Gilbert and Williams publicly announced their separation in July 2017 through a joint statement, in which they said they had decided to end their relationship and would remain close friends.
He later married Lisa Cimorelli, a member of the vocal group Cimorelli, in October 2020. This relationship became especially relevant to the public record when Cimorelli helped communicate aspects of Gilbert’s medical emergency and recovery.
Beyond these widely reported relationships, it is appropriate to avoid speculation. Biographical pages often add unverified claims about wealth, relationship timelines, personal behaviour and family circumstances; such material does not meet the standard for a reliable biography.
Health Updates and Recent Work
In late 2021, Chad Gilbert publicly disclosed that doctors had diagnosed him with pheochromocytoma, a rare tumour affecting the adrenal glands, after an emergency hospitalisation. He underwent surgery that included removal of the tumour, part of his liver, his gallbladder and an adrenal gland. In January 2022, he announced that tests and scans had found him cancer-free at that point.
His health condition later developed further, and subsequent public updates documented additional treatment. In February 2026, Gilbert experienced weakness and coordination problems, leading doctors to identify three tumours in his brain. He underwent surgery on 27 February 2026 and later reported that one tumour had been removed.
In April 2026, Gilbert discussed further radiation treatment for the remaining brain tumours and described continuing treatment for adrenocortical carcinoma. He has continued to share selected public updates about his recovery and treatment during 2026, including further hospital care later in the year.
It is important not to describe this as a settled medical outcome. Gilbert’s diagnosis, treatment and health status have changed over time. The most responsible approach is to rely on his own public updates and reputable reporting rather than making predictions about his condition.
Professionally, he remains associated with New Found Glory. Listen Up! was released on 20 February 2026, and the band framed the record as a return to guitar riffs, direct songwriting and the communal energy that helped define its earliest material.
Public Influence
Gilbert’s influence is best understood through New Found Glory’s place in pop-punk. The band’s music connected melodic songwriting with hardcore and punk-scene energy, helping make that hybrid sound accessible to a broad audience. Following the success of its early-2000s work, New Found Glory became one of the recognised acts of the pop-punk and emo-adjacent era.
His career also demonstrates how a musician can operate across several levels of a scene: writing riffs, recording albums, performing live, producing other artists and sustaining a project over decades. That continuity is more meaningful than broad claims of celebrity. His influence comes from a documented body of work, particularly his role in the creative history of New Found Glory.
Common Misconceptions
Several recurring online claims need caution:
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Gilbert is not New Found Glory’s lead singer. Jordan Pundik is the band’s lead vocalist; Gilbert plays guitar and provides backing vocals.
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His public profile is not limited to his former marriage to Hayley Williams. His own career with New Found Glory predates that relationship and includes production and solo-project work.
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Net-worth figures widely published by celebrity biography sites are not substantiated by reliable financial records and should not be presented as fact.
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Health reports should be dated carefully. His 2022 statement that he was cancer-free reflected the results available then; later public updates documented further treatment, brain surgery, radiation and continuing medical care.
Conclusion
Chad Gilbert is a musician whose central achievement is his long-running role in New Found Glory. From the band’s South Florida DIY beginnings to major releases, pop-punk standards and its 2026 album Listen Up!, he has helped define its guitar-driven sound and creative direction.
His production work and What’s Eating Gilbert project broaden that record, while his public health updates have added another, more personal dimension to his recent public profile. The reliable record is strongest on his music and professional collaborations; many details beyond that properly remain private.
Also Read: John Nellis: The Remarkable Rise of a Football Content Creator
FAQ
Who is Chad Gilbert?
Chad Gilbert is an American guitarist, songwriter and producer best known as a founding member of New Found Glory. He plays guitar and sings backing vocals in the band, whose major songs include “My Friends Over You” and “All Downhill From Here.” He has also worked with Shai Hulud, International Superheroes of Hardcore and What’s Eating Gilbert.
What is Chad Gilbert known for?
Chad Gilbert is primarily known for his work with New Found Glory, a long-running Florida pop-punk band. His guitar writing helped shape some of the group’s best-known material, including “My Friends Over You,” which became a defining song for the band’s early-2000s breakthrough.
Is Chad Gilbert the lead singer of New Found Glory?
No. Jordan Pundik is New Found Glory’s lead vocalist. Chad Gilbert is the group’s guitarist and a backing vocalist who has contributed extensively to its songwriting. The distinction is important because some low-quality biography pages incorrectly describe Gilbert as the band’s frontman.
Was Chad Gilbert married to Hayley Williams?
Yes. Chad Gilbert and Paramore singer Hayley Williams were married before publicly announcing their separation in July 2017. Their joint statement said they had decided to end their relationship and would remain close friends.
What is Chad Gilbert doing now?
Gilbert remains professionally connected to New Found Glory. The band released its 11th studio album, Listen Up!, on 20 February 2026. He has also shared public updates about continuing cancer treatment and recovery following brain surgery and radiation treatment in 2026.
Does Chad Gilbert have a solo project?
Yes. Chad Gilbert’s solo project is called What’s Eating Gilbert. The project explores a more power-pop-oriented sound than New Found Glory, and its debut full-length album, That New Sound You’re Looking For, was released in 2015.
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