Let it be the boys with hats (8)
I believe the answer is:
stetsons
'hats' is the definition.
(I know this)
'let it be the boys' is the wordplay.
'let it be' becomes 'stet' (I've seen this before).
'the boys' becomes 'sons' ('son' can be a synonym of 'boy').
'stet'+'sons'='STETSONS'
'with' is the link.
(Other definitions for stetsons that I've seen before include "Hats for Texans" , "Cowboy hats" , "Hats for Texan oil magnates" .)