Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist of New Found Glory, was 45 when he died on September 20, 2026, and his age is in nearly every headline about his death. This article shows how that number adds up from his March 9, 1981 birth date, what has been confirmed about his life and family, and what is still unconfirmed.
Background: Who Chad Gilbert Was and Why People Are Searching
Chad Everett Gilbert was an American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. In 1997 he helped start New Found Glory, a pop-punk band from Coral Springs, Florida. He played lead guitar and sang backing vocals. Rolling Stone reports that he wrote most of the band’s songs, including “My Friends Over You” and “Head On Collision.”
He was known in hardcore music before that. Wikipedia lists him as a singer for the hardcore band Shai Hulud from 1995 to 1998, and again from 2012 to 2013. Later he became a producer and worked on albums by A Day to Remember and H2O.
People are searching for his age because news of his death came with the number 45 in the headline. Readers then want the birth date, the family details, and the cause. The sections below answer those questions and mark clearly what nobody has confirmed.
Latest Update: What Is Known About Chad Gilbert’s Death
On Sunday, September 20, 2026, New Found Glory and Gilbert’s wife, Lisa Cimorelli, posted a joint statement on Instagram. It said he “passed away peacefully in his sleep” that morning, with his wife and mother by his side. Rolling Stone, Variety, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, NBC News, and UPI all reported it.
Confirmed by several outlets: Gilbert died on September 20, 2026, at age 45. The statement names his wife Lisa, daughter Lily, mother Jackie, and brother Brian as his survivors.
No cause of death has been announced. The statement did not give one. What is on record is his cancer history, which he shared publicly for years. This table lists the dates he reported himself.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| January 2010 | Suspicious cells found in his thyroid; half was removed and no cancer was found |
| December 2021 | Emergency surgery to remove a rare adrenal tumor called a pheochromocytoma |
| August 2022 | A new tumor found in his spine; surgery followed |
| February 2023 | Announced chemotherapy after tumors turned up in his lungs and back |
| March 23, 2026 | Announced emergency brain surgery after three tumors were found |
| April 2026 | Said his diagnosis changed to stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma |
| September 20, 2026 | Died in his sleep |
The March emergency began with weakness on his left side. Cimorelli told Rolling Stone Australia that a radiologist told them to go to the emergency room right away, and scans the next morning showed three new tumors. One was about the size of a walnut and was pressing on his brain.
Still unconfirmed: the cause of death and any funeral or memorial plans. No credible report has covered either yet. Some coverage also has mistakes: one photo caption gave his age as 54, one local TV report placed his brain surgery in 2023, and a few reports called the 2021 tumor liver cancer, while most sources say adrenal. Wikipedia lists Nashville, Tennessee as the place of death, but the statement does not name a city, so treat that as a single-source detail.
Full Profile: Chad Gilbert at a Glance
Family and Early Life
Chad Everett Gilbert was born on March 9, 1981, and grew up in Coral Springs, Florida. His mother is Jackie and his brother is Brian, both named in the family statement. As a young teenager he sang for Shai Hulud, which Wikipedia dates to 1995. He told New Noise this year that he and his friends were misfits at school, and they formed the band to keep feeling like they belonged.
Career Path
New Found Glory formed in 1997. Gilbert, singer Jordan Pundik, bassist Ian Grushka, and guitarist Steve Klein were founders, and drummer Cyrus Bolooki joined early. The first album, Nothing Gold Can Stay, arrived in 1999. The mainstream breakthrough came with Sticks and Stones in 2002, which included “My Friends Over You,” according to Variety. Gilbert played on every album through Listen Up! in 2026, his last with the band. That record came out in February 2026 and was produced by Steve Evetts, who also worked on the band’s 2020 album Forever + Ever x Infinity.
As a producer, he worked on A Day to Remember’s Homesick, What Separates Me from You, and Common Courtesy, plus H2O’s Nothing to Prove. He also made solo music as What’s Eating Gilbert, including the 2015 album That New Sound You’re Looking For. He sang guest vocals for Fall Out Boy and Say Anything, and he returned to Shai Hulud for its 2013 album Reach Beyond the Sun, which he also produced. Album counts differ by source: the band says more than a dozen, while Variety calls Listen Up! the 11th studio album.
Age
Gilbert was born on March 9, 1981, and died on September 20, 2026. That makes him 45 years, 6 months, and 11 days old. He turned 45 on March 9, 2026, and would have turned 46 on March 9, 2027. The table shows how old he was at key moments; ranges appear where the exact month is not confirmed.
| Moment | Date | His age |
|---|---|---|
| Started singing for Shai Hulud | 1995 | 13 or 14 |
| New Found Glory formed | 1997 | 15 or 16 |
| First album released | 1999 | 17 or 18 |
| Sticks and Stones released | 2002 | 20 or 21 |
| Married Lisa Cimorelli | October 3, 2020 | 39 |
| First emergency tumor surgery | December 2021 | 40 |
| Brain surgery announced | March 23, 2026 | 45 |
| Death | September 20, 2026 | 45 |
One report says he was 17 when the band started in 1997. By his birth date he would have been 15 or 16 that year, so his exact age at the founding is unconfirmed.
Religion
No credible source we checked states Gilbert’s religion. It is unconfirmed, and we will not guess.
Spouse/Partner
At the time of his death, Gilbert was married to Lisa Cimorelli, a member of the sister singing group Cimorelli. They married on October 3, 2020, and have a daughter named Lily, born in July 2021, according to Wikipedia.
He was married twice before. He wed Sherri DuPree of the band Eisley in February 2007. Wikipedia says they divorced that same year, while Variety says it was the following year, so the exact date is unconfirmed. In February 2016 he married Hayley Williams of Paramore, and that marriage ended in 2017.
Net Worth
No verified net worth exists. Celebrity Net Worth estimates $4 million on a page dated May 2026, but that is a third-party guess, not a figure from Gilbert, his band, or his family. Treat it as unconfirmed.
Parents
His mother, Jackie, survives him, along with his brother, Brian. His father’s name does not appear in any credible report we found, so it is unconfirmed.
Height
No reliable source lists his height. It is unconfirmed.
Education
Gilbert attended J. P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs. He left after 11th grade when New Found Glory signed with Drive-Thru Records. We found no report of any college study.
Hometown/State of Origin
Coral Springs, Florida, United States. Wikipedia, The Hollywood Reporter, and Newsy all list it as his birthplace. A Billboard calendar entry uses a Pompano Beach headline instead, and one low-quality site claims Long Island, New York, which no major outlet backs up. Coral Springs is the safest answer.
Official Social Media
Gilbert’s Instagram handle is @xchadballx, and his band and wife used Instagram to announce his death. Other official pages are newfoundglory.com and whatseatinggilbert.com. We could not confirm the verification badge on the Instagram profile, so check it before sharing.
Quick Table
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Full name | Chad Everett Gilbert |
| Born | March 9, 1981 |
| Died | September 20, 2026 (age 45) |
| Hometown | Coral Springs, Florida |
| Known for | Lead guitarist, New Found Glory |
| Spouse | Lisa Cimorelli (m. 2020) |
| Children | One daughter, Lily |
| Mother / brother | Jackie / Brian |
| Height | Unconfirmed |
| Religion | Unconfirmed |
| Net worth | Unconfirmed (third-party estimate: $4 million) |
Reader Questions (FAQ)
How old was Chad Gilbert when he died?
Chad Gilbert was 45 years old when he died on September 20, 2026. He was born on March 9, 1981, so he was 45 years, 6 months, and 11 days old.
When was Chad Gilbert born?
He was born on March 9, 1981. Most outlets say the birthplace was Coral Springs, Florida. He would have turned 46 on March 9, 2027.
How did Chad Gilbert die?
His band and wife said he passed away peacefully in his sleep. No cause of death has been announced as of September 21, 2026. He had battled cancer since 2021, but no official source has named the cause.
Who was Chad Gilbert’s wife?
His wife was Lisa Cimorelli, a member of the group Cimorelli. They married on October 3, 2020, and have a daughter named Lily.
Was Chad Gilbert married to Hayley Williams?
Yes. He married Paramore singer Hayley Williams in February 2016, and the marriage ended in 2017, according to Wikipedia. He was also briefly married to Sherri DuPree of Eisley in 2007.
What was Chad Gilbert’s net worth?
His net worth is unconfirmed. One third-party site estimates $4 million, but neither his family nor his band has shared a figure.
What band was Chad Gilbert in?
He was a founding member and lead guitarist of New Found Glory. He also sang for the hardcore band Shai Hulud, fronted International Superheroes of Hardcore, and released solo music as What’s Eating Gilbert.
What will happen to New Found Glory now?
No plans have been announced in the reports we checked, so this is unconfirmed. Wikipedia lists Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, and Cyrus Bolooki as the current members. The band said Gilbert’s influence will always be part of New Found Glory.
How tall was Chad Gilbert?
His height is unconfirmed. No reliable source we checked lists it, and we will not guess.
Wrap-Up: What Chad Gilbert’s Age Tells Us
The short answer is 45. Chad Gilbert was born on March 9, 1981, and died on September 20, 2026, about six months after his 45th birthday. Every major outlet we checked gives that number in its report, even though a few small details around it do not line up.
Here is the bigger picture. He started in hardcore bands as a young teenager and, counting Shai Hulud from 1995, spent more than 30 years making music. His own band called it nearly three decades with New Found Glory alone. In that time he wrote songs, produced other bands, and shared his cancer fight openly, so many fans had followed his health updates for years.
For now, the reliable sources are the band’s and Lisa Cimorelli’s official posts and established news outlets. Treat any claim about the cause of death or funeral plans as a rumor until one of them confirms it. Video clips with dramatic titles are a common place for errors to spread.
Thomas Andrew is the founder of Odubio.com, a digital platform sharing inspiring biographies, news, and stories about global icons and achievers.