Hayley Williams’ Parents Divorced It Had a Strong Influence on Her

Hayley Williams’ parents divorced when she was four. They both remarried a few times afterward, and although they continually supported her, their separation had a lasting impact on the Paramore frontwoman.

Hayley Williams has spoken extensively about her trauma as a child of divorced parents. The singer said she felt orphaned, despite how loving and caring her parents tried to be following their separation.

She witnessed her family fall apart and had to adapt to having a mom and dad that lived separately, jumping between their houses. Growing up and pursuing her own romantic relationships, she didn’t want to repeat those mistakes.

Therapy helped Hayley realize that given how young her parents were, their decisions were understandable regardless of how poor or hurtful. Still, they left an indelible mark on her perception of stability and family.

The former couple welcomed Hayley in 1988 and supported her dreams of pursuing a full-time music career. In addition to helping her navigate the industry, her mother, Cristi, made it her job to help other young entertainers do the same safely and wisely.

Cristi is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Master’s degree in Education and Counseling. She began teaching under the Lauderdale County School System in 1992 before moving to the Franklin Special School District in 2002.

Two years later, she founded the artist consulting and entertainment life coaching firm, Shading The Limelight, LLC. The company remains active, operating in Nashville, Tennessee, and Los Angeles, California, offering guidance to budding artists in the industry.

Cristi is also a Certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Master Practitioner. Additionally, she has worked as an Adjunct Professor of Emotional/Social Skills in the Entertainment Industry at Belmont University since 2013. Yet despite quite a decorated resume, she felt raising Hayley was her greatest accomplishment.

Hayley once noted that the women on her maternal side had been through a lot, from experiencing domestic abuse to unhealthy relationships. After her parents divorced, her mom remarried, but the marriage was tumultuous.

The two ran to Franklin, Tennessee, where Paramore would eventually form. Moving between hotels and a trailer, Hayley was homeschooled. They would also make ends meet with Cristi babysitting and Hayley taking writing and demoing gigs.

Coming up in the pop era of Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson, Hayley found her chosen family in her Paramore bandmates. The first song she wrote for the band was “Conspiracy,” talking about her parents telling her that opportunities in music often come with sacrifices.

Despite how her parents’ divorce affected her perception of family and how she navigated romance, Hayley wasn’t angry at Cristi and Joey. “They were kids. They made a mistake. It’s not really something to be angry at,” she said.

Still, their separation sparked a long-lasting desire for stability and a family that stayed intact. She married musician Chad Gilbert in 2016, but their relationship fell apart less than two years later. They divorced in 2017, and Hayley’s mental health rapidly declined.

She was later diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Depression. But amid these challenges, the singer wasn’t alone. Her family expanded; her mom found love with a childhood friend and married him in 2011.

In addition to her two biological sisters, her mom’s husband has two daughters from a previous relationship. Her dad also remarried; his wife has three sons from an earlier relationship, leaving Hayley with seven siblings.