Hayley Williams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hayley Williams
Williams performing in April 2023
Background information
Birth name	Hayley Nichole Williams
Born	(1988-12-27) December 27, 1988 (age 36) Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.
Origin	Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Pop-punk emo pop rock alternative rock power pop art pop new wave synth-pop
Occupations	Singer songwriter musician
Instruments	Vocals keyboards piano guitar
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Fueled by Ramen Atlantic

Hayley Nichole Williams (born December 27, 1988) is an American singer and songwriter. She is famous for being the co-founder and lead singer of the rock band Paramore. She is the only member who has been with the band since it started.

Williams was born in Meridian, Mississippi. When she was 13, her parents divorced, and she moved with her mother to Franklin, Tennessee. There, she met the musicians who would form Paramore with her. The band has released six albums, including Riot! and This Is Why. Williams is the only member to be on every album. In 2015, she and bandmate Taylor York won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for their song "Ain't It Fun".

Besides Paramore, Williams has worked on her own music. She sang on the hit song "Airplanes" by B.o.B in 2010. She has also worked with artists like Zedd, Taylor Swift, and Turnstile. Williams has released two solo albums, Petals for Armor (2020) and Flowers for Vases / Descansos (2021).

She also started a hair dye company called Good Dye Young and hosted a music series called Kiss-Off.

Early Life

Hayley Nichole Williams was born in Meridian, Mississippi, on December 27, 1988. She has two younger half-sisters. After her parents divorced in 2002, she moved to Franklin, Tennessee, with her mom.

In her new school, she met brothers Josh and Zac Farro. Soon after moving, she started taking singing lessons. Williams also tried out for a local funk band and met Jeremy Davis. These friends would later become the first members of Paramore.

Music Career

2004–Present: Paramore

Williams performing on the Warped Tour in Camden, New Jersey, in August 2007

In 2003, when Williams was 14, she was discovered by managers who signed her to a production deal. A record label, Atlantic Records, wanted to make her a solo pop singer. However, Williams insisted that she wanted to be in a band and play pop punk music.

Atlantic agreed, and she formed Paramore with Josh Farro, Zac Farro, and Jeremy Davis. The label decided to release their music through a smaller label called Fueled by Ramen to give the band a "cooler" image. The band's name, "Paramore," came from the maiden name of an early member's mother. When they found out "paramour" means "secret lover," they liked it and kept the name.

Paramore's first album, All We Know Is Falling, came out in 2005 when Williams was just 16. The band has released five more albums since then. The band's members have changed over the years. Currently, Paramore is made up of Williams, Zac Farro, and Taylor York.

In 2015, Williams won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for "Ain't It Fun" with her bandmate and co-writer Taylor York. She also appeared in Taylor Swift's music video for "Bad Blood" as the character 'Crimson Curse'.

When asked in 2019 if she would stay with Paramore, Williams said she wanted to continue with the band as long as she and her bandmates were happy and friends.

2009–Present: Solo Career

Williams performing in Oklahoma City, in August 2014

Even while in Paramore, Williams has worked on other music projects. She recorded the song "Teenagers" for the movie Jennifer's Body in 2009.

In 2010, she was the featured singer on the hit song "Airplanes" by the rapper B.o.B. The song was a huge success, reaching the top ten in 19 countries. She also worked with the music producer Zedd on the song "Stay the Night" in 2013.

In December 2019, Williams announced she would release solo music. Her first solo album, Petals for Armor, came out in May 2020. She released her second solo album, Flowers for Vases / Descansos, in February 2021.

In 2023, she was a featured artist on Taylor Swift's re-recorded album, Speak Now (Taylor's Version), on the song "Castles Crumbling".

Business Ventures

Williams performing at Rock im Park in Nuremberg, Germany, in 2013

Besides music, Williams has been involved in several business projects.

• Makeup: In 2013, she partnered with MAC Cosmetics to release her own makeup collection.
• Charity: She worked with the Hard Rock Café's PINKTOBER campaign to raise money for breast cancer research.
• Web Series: In 2015, she launched an online music and beauty series called Kiss-Off.
• Good Dye Young: In 2016, Williams launched her own hair dye company, Good Dye Young. The company sells a variety of bold, vegan, and cruelty-free hair colors.

Artistry

Musical Style and Influences

Williams's music is often described as pop-punk, emo, and alternative rock. She has said that she is influenced by many artists, including Björk, Debbie Harry of Blondie, Gwen Stefani, and Beyoncé.

Voice

Williams is a soprano singer with a vocal range that spans four octaves. Critics have praised her powerful and energetic voice. Musician John Mayer once called her "The great orange hope," referring to her talent and her bright orange hair at the time.

Personal Life

Williams performing at The O2, in London, in January 2018

Williams has spoken about her Christian faith but has also criticized people who are judgmental.

From 2007 to 2017, she was in a relationship with Chad Gilbert, the lead guitarist of New Found Glory. They were married in 2016 but announced their separation a year later. In September 2022, Williams confirmed she is in a relationship with her Paramore bandmate, Taylor York.

Williams has been open about her struggles with mental health, including depression. She has encouraged others to talk about their mental health and seek help. She revealed that she was diagnosed with PTSD in 2018 and has been seeing a therapist.

In 2015, Williams addressed criticism of the lyrics in Paramore's early song "Misery Business". Some people felt the lyrics were mean to other women. Williams explained that she was very young when she wrote it and now considers herself a "proud feminist."

Williams is also active in politics. She uses her social media to support causes she believes in, such as the Black Lives Matter movement. She has also encouraged her fans to vote and has spoken out against politicians like Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump.

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

See also

In Spanish: Hayley Williams para niños