Connie Britton starred alongside a young Hayden Panettiere for six seasons on the hit country music series, “Nashville.”
Following the beloved actress’s death at the age of 36, the “Friday Night Lights” actress paid an emotional tribute to her former co-star.
Connie Britton’s Tribute
Britton took to social media on Monday, August 17, one day after Hayden’s death, sharing a series of photos from their time on the drama series.
“This was Hayden. Bursting with brilliance, shining so bright,” Connie captioned her post. “I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now. 💔”
Fans and friends flooded the comments section of Britton’s post with thoughts and prayers.
“Hayden was a talented young lady with a long runway ahead of her personally and professionally. Her passing is devastating. I had the privilege of being an extra in one of her scenes. She was amazing. Very professional and gracious to the extras,” one fan wrote.
“This one really hurts 😔🥺💔 Nashville is my comfort show and it will take me a long time before I will be able to watch it again without tears 😢 She was far too young! Rest in peace Hayden ❤️🪽” another commented.
A third added, “Been thinking of you today @conniebritton and the marvelous way you two ladies worked together on the show. I loved every episode. So sorry for your loss. She was a bright shining star, for sure. So sad.”
Hayden starred as Juliette Barnes, a country pop singer and former teen star whose goal it was to overtake Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton’s character) at the top of the country music charts.
The series ran from October 2012 to May 2016 on ABC before finding a new home at CMT and continuing until July 2018.
Hayden Panettiere on ‘Nashville’
Hayden opened up about her time on the hit series in her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” which was released earlier this year.
“My character wasn’t intended to be the show’s star — not even close,” Panettiere wrote in her book. “That honor went to Connie, whose Rayna Jaymes was in the twilight of her career, facing a dramatic turning point thanks to yours truly.”
She continued, “Unfortunately, after the pilot, it was clear that my billing had gone way up. I went from maybe number five in terms of importance to nipping at Connie’s heels. I was deeply uncomfortable with this development.”
“I was 23 years old, and Connie was in her 40s with three Emmy nominations under her belt. This should have been her time to shine.”
The “Remember the Titans” actress was found unresponsive in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, August 16. First responders arrived at the scene but were unable to save her.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. 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,” Hayden’s father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement following her passing. “We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
