Charles Esten, who starred alongside Hayden Panettiere in the television series "Nashville," has shared a heartfelt tribute to the late actress, detailing a "strange coincidence" surrounding her death. Panettiere died at the age of 36 in Greenville, South Carolina.
Esten revealed in an Instagram post that he had performed at the same venue where Panettiere passed away, just days before her death. The venue, The Foundry, is located within Judson Mills, the same complex where Panettiere was found. "We were actually in Judson Mills, itself (where the [Foundry] venue is located)," Esten wrote. He noted that he and his wife were stunned to learn that Panettiere had arrived at the loft apartments in the same Judson Mills complex the very next day.
"By then, (Saturday) our tour bus had taken us through the night to Wilmington, where we were setting up for my next show, oblivious to all that was to come," Esten explained, emphasizing the temporal separation despite the proximity.
He expressed a wish that the coincidence had brought them together. "I just wish that it had actually put us there together at the same time. And that we somehow could have bumped into her. And got to hug her, and laugh in amazement with her. And tell her how much we love her again," he wrote.
Esten also recounted his first meeting with Panettiere on the set of "Nashville." He described how, after an audition, he opened a door and bumped into her. "To my complete surprise, it was Hayden Paniettiere, who — in full Juliette Barnes mode — had been listening with her ear to the door," he recalled. "Her face instantly bloomed into the most beautiful smile. Eyes twinkling, she clapped her hands and said, ‘That was so good!!'"
He remembered their subsequent friendship, stating, "She was, of course, extraordinarily talented, infusing her larger-than-life character with all the heart, charisma, humor, whip-smart intelligence and flat-out magic that were, alongside whatever troubles and pain she carried, a part of her own personal palette."
Esten concluded his tribute with "God bless you, Hayden. Rest In Peace and Light."
Other "Nashville" cast members also shared their grief. Connie Britton, who played Rayna Jaymes, described Panettiere as "bursting with brilliance, shining so bright." Sylvia Jefferies noted that Panettiere "had an incredibly bright future ahead of her, although her inner demons were at times too much to bear." Sam Palladio, who played Gunnar Scott, expressed being "utterly heartbroken" and called Panettiere "generous, wise beyond your years and lit up every room with your star."