Hayden Panettiere’s sudden death at age 36 has left colleagues and fans reeling, with tributes pouring in from across the globe.
Panettiere’s Nashville co-star Jonathan Jackson speaks out with a moving tribute.
The 36-year-old actress was found dead on Sunday, August 16, at her South California apartment.
Jackson penned a long post on his Instagram full of “shock and grief” on his Instagram handle on Thursday, August 20.
“She had such a bright light within her. She was a sensitive soul. Incredibly funny and witty. Amazingly gifted, with a great sense of empathy and compassion,” the 44-year-old actor wrote.
Reflecting on the journey both shared on-screen, “A silent knowing of how intense the struggles can be. She was an absolute joy to work with,” Jackson continued.
“The most important thing between friends and coworkers is trust. And we had this,” Nashville co-star continued.
Jackson went on to say that he and his partner Lisa, were deeply moved by the sudden loss of their dear friend, adding, “Both love and cherish her deeply, like our own sister. She holds that place in our hearts.”
Jonathan starred on the ABC long-running drama series Nashville, which hit the airwaves between 2013 and 2018.
Panettiere’s one of her last media appearances has sent shockwaves across Hollywood, which appeared just weeks before her death.
The Bring It On actress detailed how she was being forced as a child actress by Hollywood producers to think about death in order to cry on cue.
Hayden touchesn “trigger tears” and how they shaped her life afterwards.
“I think I really realised on Nashville, when I was working 10 months out of the year.
“(As) a child, it was so easy for me to cry. When people realised that I was so good at crying, they made me do it all the time. I went from a child being able to think about something so simple that would make me emotional, but (as) I got older…”
2026-08-20 17:50:00
