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Hayden PanettiereDeath still leaves a broken void in the lives of the people who knew and loved her.
And now this week, her previous one Nashville costar Connie Britton shares an emotional look at the private gathering brought together by loved ones to remember the late actress.
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In a cover story published by People On Tuesday, Britton reflected on attending a celebration of Panettiere’s life with his partner Nashville cast members. And the sadness in that room was palpable. As the Friday Night Lights alum put it:
“We were all just bawling.”
But amid the tears, Britton has also found comfort in the people who had a special connection with Panettiere.
She said:
“I find solace and connection within the community of people who are still there.”
The actress also looked back on their time filming Nashvillewhich ran for six seasons from 2012 to 2018. When Britton moved to Tennessee with her son, Jobnow 15, she was looking for a support system.
And it was then that Panettiere, as she recalled, offered a particularly sweet kind of kindness:
“I was really looking for my hometown when I moved there with my little baby, and I needed help. Every time Yoby was on set and Hayden was there, she just stopped everything. Everything became about Yoby. It just felt like sweetness.”
So sweet And also, so sad…
That memory makes this loss even worse. Sometimes, the little moments reveal the most about a person, and Britton’s memory paints a picture of Panettiere as someone who made others feel cared for.
In fact, as we’ve been reporting, Panettiere was found dead in South Carolina back in August at just 36 years old. Her death was ruled accidental, with the coroner ruling on the toxic effects of multiple substances.
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His loved ones gathered for a private celebration of life in Malibu on September 19, with Britton and his partner Nashville a star Charles Esten among those present, with Esten even performing in her honor.
Britton had also praised Panettiere on Instagram shortly after news of her death broke, expressing her heartbreak and love for her former co-star.
In the end, it is clear that Hayden touched so many lives. And now, Britton and the rest of her loved ones may find comfort in the memories, the shared tears, and the community that still holds her close. Ugh.
[Image via MEGA/WENN]
