Hayden Panettiere left one of her friends with a final message that has taken on heartbreaking new meaning following her sudden death at 36.
Nashville musician Clayton Johnson paid tribute to the “Nashville” and “Heroes” actress on Monday, August 17, one day after her death. Alongside a video of the pair singing together as Johnson played guitar, he revealed the last text Panettiere ever sent him.
Hayden Panettiere’s Friend Shares Her Final Text
Johnson said he and Panettiere had last spoken by phone a couple of weeks earlier. Her final text reflected a simple hope for something much bigger than herself. “It’s been a couple of weeks since our last phone call, but the last thing you ever texted me was, ‘Honestly, people think it’s a joke to ask for world peace, but that would be me.’ That was you in a nutshell.”
Johnson also wrote that he hoped his friend had found peace and was reunited with her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who died in 2023.
Clayton Johnson Remembers the Friend He Lost
Johnson struggled to put the loss into words, writing, “Sweet Hayden. I spent last night trying to process, to try to find the right words, but there really aren’t any. More than anything, I hope you’re at peace now and reunited with Jansen.”
He ended his tribute by expressing gratitude for the years they knew one another.
“And I’ll always be grateful for the memories,” he wrote. “Fly high, Hayden.”
New Details Emerge About Hayden Panettiere’s Death
Panettiere was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, August 16, according to an NBC News report. Emergency crews were called at about 1:50 p.m. after an acquaintance contacted 911. Despite efforts to save her, Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dispatch audio obtained by People included references to an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest.” Paramedics administered advanced cardiac life support before Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. Authorities have not determined that an overdose caused her death, and an official cause remains pending.
GettyThe Greenville Police Department said its preliminary investigation found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. Police and the Greenville County Coroner’s Office continue to investigate.
Hayden Panettiere’s Family Remembers an ‘Incredible Light’
Panettiere’s representative confirmed her death in a statement shared on behalf of her father on Sunday, August 16.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” the statement shared with ABC News said. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.”
Panettiere spent much of her life in the public eye, rising from child acting roles to international recognition on “Heroes” and later “Nashville.” Her film credits included “Remember the Titans,” “Scream 4” and “Scream VI.”
She also released her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in May, opening up about some of the most difficult chapters of her life.
She is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.
