Hayley Williams is a woman of many talents. From rocking the stage, building a business, and constantly being a style icon, it's time we all get reacquainted.

Hayley Williams on stage shot by Christopher Polk for PMC at Variety.com © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

A music scene veteran, Hayley Williams had a dream of being on stage since she started to form her band at 12 years old. Although she is a Mississippi native, after her parents divorce she ended up in Nashville, Tennessee where she would meet her future band mates, Zac and Josh Farro, at her new school. Paramore would go on to become one of the most recognizable pop-punk bands of the 2000’s releasing hit after hit despite many lineup changes and inner circle disputes between band members. Among the punchy lyricism of early paramore, what’s stuck with me most has always been the incredible vocal range of Williams. Accurately described as being able to do “vocal acrobatics” Williams effortlessly jumps between delicate soft serenading and top of your lungs belting in a few breaths.

Standing at a mere 5’1”, head banging and orange hair lighting up a stage, she has always seemed larger than life as a performer. What's also most impressive is her lasting impact as a woman in the male dominated pop-punk scene. Her presence has carved out a space not only for herself but for countless young women looking for representation. In August, Spotify announced their Top 20 most streamed Rock bands of all time with Paramore coming in at spot #20. She was among only one other woman in Stevie Nicks as Fleetwood Mac took the 10th spot. While she’s obviously not the first frontwoman of a rock band, she is one of the most visible in today’s music scene. Being a woman in rock music a lot of the time means being overlooked. Hayley has opened up a lot about how when starting out, the pop punk scene was not as welcoming to Paramore as a female led band, even though they were and still are one of the most popular bands to come out of the scene. Growing up, the punk, emo, and rock genres can feel intimidating for young girls, but I was able to see myself in Hayley Williams, and furthermore became a lifetime fan not only for the music, but the way she never tried to be anything other than a girl who had a passion for rock music. As a young girl I would proudly tell people that my favorite band was Paramore because if Hayley could keep up with the boys, so could I. I’ve poured over her vocals for years, and yet her live performances like ‘All I Wanted’ at last year’s Bonaroo Music Festival, never fail to blow me away. The song is particularly challenging and in previous years was never played live due to that reason. Why the sudden change we can't be sure, but all we can say now is thank you Hayley Williams!

To me, Hayley Williams is one of the greats of our generation, but it was only recently that she started gaining more recognition online by way of The Eras Tour. After meeting at the Grammys in 2008 Swift and Williams bonded over being a woman in the industry, and not having many close female friends. They have since had a long lasting friendship which has included lots of mutual support and collaborations in their respective careers. Williams is featured on the re-release of Swift's “Speak Now” album on a beautiful bonus track titled “Castles Crumbling”. She was also featured in the star studded “Bad Blood” music video from 2014 as “The Crimson Curse” highlighting her signature flame colored locks.

While some people on the internet balked at the idea of people not knowing who Paramore was after they were announced as the opening act for The Eras Tour across the 2024 european leg (myself included), I realized it would only bring new and many younger fans to be introduced to Williams and the band. Even though previous openers included the likes of Sabrina Carpenter and Gracie Abrams, neither have the track record, cultural impact, and significance like Williams and Paramore! Besides the icon of a song that is “Misery Business”, Paramore has written songs for “Twilight”, “Transformers” and “Jennifer’s Body”. What would Twilight be without “Decode” ?!, or the subsequent interview between Williams and Robert Pattinson for MySpace’s Artist on Artist interview in 2008 discussing how she inspired him to start writing new music, which is equally as ridiculous as it is iconic.

Robert Pattinson and Hayley Williams in 2008 from @youthscenes on Instagram © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

While Williams is a certified frontwoman, she recently debuted solo with her 2020 album, “Petals for Armor”. Although it was produced with Paramore’s Taylor York, it is distinctively her own, and showcased her artistry outside of the band's image. The album has gorgeous RnB and funk influences and was born out of a particularly tumultuous time in Hayley’s life, but instead of shying away from the pain, she used it to create something raw and beautiful. Songs like “Simmer” and “Dead Horse” show her willingness to push boundaries and explore new sonic territories, proving that her creative process is as fearless as her stage persona. “Simmer aptly opens with one word only… “rage”.

As a band, Paramore has also been open about discussing mental health struggles through albums like “ After Laughter”, which was their unapologetically 80’s pop influenced album. On the surface it was sonically all synths and sunshine, but lyrically discussed themes of self sabotage, depression, and frustration, like two of my favorites, “Fake Happy” and “Pool”. The latter being about a toxic relationship you just can’t stop going back to: As if the first cut wasn't deep enough/ I dove in again 'cause I'm not into giving up/ Could've gotten the same rush from any lover's touch/ Why get used to something new?/ 'Cause no one breaks my heart like you. After experimenting with subject and genre, the band found themselves with a craving to make more rock music, and thus became their 2023 album “This is why”.

Besides music, Williams has also made waves in the beauty industry with her vegan and cruelty-free hair dye brand, Good Dye Young. Founded in 2016 with her longtime stylist and friend Brian O’Connor, the brand reflects Hayley’s passion for self expression through bold colors. As a survivor of the punk music scene she has practically had every hair color under the sun, and now we can too, including her tried and true orange in the line called “Riot” after the album era where she first debuted the neon locks.

While mostly being known for her hair, I would argue she is underrated when it comes to makeup and fashion. She has always worn incredible outfits on and off stage and is not afraid to experiment with tons of different styles. While she has gone from sporting band tees and vans in her teen years to bold color blocked styles in her 20s, she has recently been seen in more refined, chic styles and has even given us some couture moments this year like her appearance at the Vivienne Westwood show for Paris Fashion week sporting a full Elizabethan- era look.

Another of my favorite looks from her this year was from the I Heart Radio music festival where she paid homage to Debby Harry in a slinky electric blue number. I have always admired her ability to play with fashion onstage without sacrificing her ability to jump around and dance the entire time.

So if you’re new here, and just getting to know stellar Ms. Williams, welcome! The bottom line is that while there are many pop girls to idolize and celebrate right now, Hayley Williams, to me, is still the one to beat when it comes to vocals, passion, and legacy. As Paramore continues to enjoy a resurgence, we’re all eager to see what’s next for Hayley Williams. With a career that spans nearly two decades, she’s already left an indelible mark on music, fashion, and culture. Whether it’s more solo projects, new Paramore material, or further expansion of Good Dye Young, one thing is certain: Hayley isn’t done inspiring us yet.

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