Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler paid tribute to his late "dear friend" and "Nashville" co-star Hayden Panettiere, who died Sunday at the age of 36.
"She was a dear friend of mine, I loved her dearly and I feel bad for her mom - big love to her," Tyler, 78, told TMZ on Tuesday.
Tyler and Panettiere collaborated on a September 2015 episode of the ABC series "Nashville," where they performed a duet of Patsy Cline's "Crazy." In the storyline, Panettiere's character, Juliette Barnes, was portraying Cline in a biopic.
Tyler had previously spoken about his positive working experience with Panettiere in a 2015 interview with Entertainment Weekly, praising her professionalism. "Hayden is a peach," Tyler told the outlet at the time. "She’s a seasoned pro, from her success on NBC’s Heroes." He added, "She’s a true professional both while filming, recording and off set as well."
Regarding their duet, Tyler noted that it "only made sense that we would sing the most recognizable Patsy Cline song ever" given the show's plot. He affirmed Panettiere's vocal abilities, stating, "Why lip sync when you can sing live? And yes - she is that good!"
While known for her acting, Panettiere also showcased her musical talents in "Nashville" and several Disney projects, including "Tiger Cruise" (2004), "Ice Princess" (2005), and "Cinderella III: A Twist in Time" (2007).
Panettiere's death was announced by her father, Skip Panettiere, who described her as "an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her." He requested privacy for the family.
Authorities in Greenville, South Carolina, responded to a report of an unresponsive female, which was subsequently determined to be Panettiere and was suspected to be a drug overdose. Officials stated that no signs of trauma or foul play were evident, and the investigation into her death is ongoing.
