Beloved Rocker Returns to the Stage in a Wheelchair-and the Emotional Moment Left Him in Tears
New Found Glory guitarist and vocalist Chad Gilbert fought back tears as he returned to the stage in a wheelchair amid his fight against rare adrenal cancer.
The rock star, 45, hit the stage in Nashville and got emotional as he was able to reunite onstage with his band after his shocking medical battle with the rare cancer, which saw him being rushed to the emergency room in March after suddenly losing control of his limbs. But the beloved musician triumphed and returned to the stage last week, and was overcome with emotion in a video obtained by The Daily Mail.
In a touching Instagram post, the musician shared how special the experience was.
"Monday was such a special night. I got to play a show in front of my daughter, something I truly never thought I'd get to do again. And my beautiful wife and all the nurses and doctors, my amazing team that have kept me alive through my battle. It was very emotional getting up on stage with my band again to play. So many feelings all at once. Here are some photos from the show. If you were there I hope you had a great time. Love you all," Gilbert captioned the shots, which showed him performing once again.
What Happened to New Found Glory's Chad Gilbert?
Four years ago, Gilbert received the diagnosis of a rare cancer called pheochromocytoma. However, the star wasn't sure what hit him when he started losing control of his limbs onstage during a gig back in February.
"On February 20th, I played a show in Nashville and was struggling to control the movements of my left hand. My left leg was getting weaker by the day and I started stumbling and falling at times. On the 23rd, I was taken to the ER," Gilbert shared in an Instagram post in March, adding that a CT scan revealed to doctors that he had three tumors in his brain.
Gilbert underwent surgery in February to remove the tumors, and it was a success. Since that nightmare, he's been actively recovering.
Related: ‘00s Rock Star Shares Update After Major Health Scare and Brain Surgery
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 12:08 PM.