Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist of New Found Glory, has died at just 45 years old. His wife, Lisa Cimorelli, and the band confirmed that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, surrounded by loved ones. His wife and mother were by his side during his final moments. 
“We are devastated and shocked by how quickly he left us,” the family and band said, while expressing gratitude that his final moments were peaceful.
Gilbert had been battling cancer for several years. He revealed in a 2026 interview that he had been receiving treatment for adrenal cancer since 2021 and had later been diagnosed with Stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma. Despite the difficult prognosis, he continued sharing updates with fans and remained deeply connected to music. His journey included numerous hospital visits, but he continued doing what he loved and stayed involved with the band. 
Born in Coral Springs, Florida, in 1981, Gilbert co-founded New Found Glory when he was only 16. The group released Nothing Gold Can Stay in 1999 and became an important name in pop-punk, producing songs such as My Friends Over You and Vicious Love. Over nearly three decades, Gilbert’s guitar work and songwriting helped shape the band’s sound, with New Found Glory releasing more than a dozen albums and continuing to tour.
Following the news, tributes poured in from fellow musicians, including Dashboard Confessional, The Offspring, Good Charlotte, and blink-182’s Travis Barker. Gilbert is survived by his wife, daughter Lily, mother Jackie, and brother Brian. His family said that although he was a legendary musician, his favorite accomplishment was being a husband and father. “His biggest dreams came true.”