A video of an 11-year-old Hayden Panettiere singing Britney Spears' "You Drive Me Crazy" on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" in 2000 has resurfaced and gone viral after the actress's death on Sunday at age 36. The clip shows a young Panettiere performing for a starstruck O'Donnell, who offers a high five. At the time of the appearance, Panettiere was promoting the Disney film "Remember the Titans," in which she played Sheryl Yoast.
Social media users have shared the video, praising Panettiere's early talent and reminiscing about her later musical endeavors. Many commented on the video, expressing sadness and noting Panettiere was the same age as her daughter, Kaya, who is now 11. Panettiere's struggles with postpartum depression after Kaya's birth in 2014 were previously documented, and she had since relinquished custody of Kaya to her ex-fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko. Kaya currently resides in Europe with her father.
Beyond her acting roles, Panettiere had a notable musical career. She received a Grammy nomination in 1999 for her contribution to the soundtrack of "A Bug's Life." She also contributed to soundtracks for her own films, including "Tiger Cruise" and "The Dust Factory" in 2004, and "Ice Princess" in 2005. In 2008, she released "Wake Up Call," a reggae-infused single intended to be part of a full album that was ultimately scrapped.
Her most significant musical impact came from her role as Juliette Barnes on the ABC show "Nashville." For her work on the series, she recorded numerous country chart singles and contributed to the show's soundtrack albums. She also participated in concert appearances related to the show's promotional tours.
Panettiere died in Greenville, South Carolina. Narcan was found in the apartment where she was discovered. The Greenville County Sheriff's Office confirmed that an autopsy had been completed and found no signs of trauma. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of death. A 911 call audio indicated the actress had gone into cardiac arrest following a suspected overdose.
Panettiere had a history of addiction, which she stated began at age 15. She spoke about her struggles with fame and personal difficulties in her memoir, "This is Me: A Reckoning," which became a New York Times bestseller shortly before her death. She had stated in a 2022 interview that she had been sober in recent years, describing sobriety as "an everyday battle" and "an everyday choice."
She is predeceased by her brother, Jansen Panettiere, who died in February 2023 at age 28.