Connie Britton Recalls Emotional Memorial for Hayden Panettiere

Connie Britton described the poignant atmosphere at the memorial service for her late "Nashville" co-star Hayden Panettiere, held in Malibu on September 19.

"We all just bawled," Britton, 59, told People magazine. "I'm finding solace and connection within the community of people who still remain."

Britton and Panettiere worked together for six seasons of the ABC series "Nashville" from 2012 to 2018, portraying Rayna Jaymes and Juliette Barnes, respectively. Britton, who moved to Tennessee with her son Yoby when he was an infant, recalled Panettiere's warmth towards him.

"Every time Yoby was on set and Hayden was there, she'd just stop everything. Everything became about Yoby. It just felt like sweetness," Britton shared.

Panettiere died on August 16 in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 36. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed her death was due to an accidental drug overdose involving fentanyl.

Britton was among approximately 150 attendees at the service, where she also spoke. Other speakers included Sanoe Lake, Brad Farkas, Allie Beattie, Evan Ross, Jeff Beacher, Marnie Alton, Kasey Kitchen, and Ben Smith. Musical performances were given by Chau Pan and Mathew Engst, Kaala Clarke, Isabella D'Amore, and Charles Esten.

Panettiere's father, Alan 'Skip' Panettiere, was present, along with her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach. However, her mother, Lesley Vogel, was reportedly absent due to a family emergency. Panettiere's family had reportedly informed some individuals, including Vogel and Hickerson, that they were not invited to the memorial, according to TMZ.

In an emotional Instagram post the day after Panettiere's death, Britton paid tribute to her former castmate, sharing a series of photos. "This was Hayden," she wrote. "Bursting with brilliance, shining so bright. I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now."

Panettiere, in her book "This Is Me: A Reckoning," reflected on her professional dynamic with Britton during their time on "Nashville." She expressed feeling uncomfortable as her own star rapidly rose on the show, concerned about Britton potentially feeling threatened.

"My character wasn't intended to be the show's star - not even close," Panettiere wrote. "That honor went to Connie, whose Rayna Jaymes was in the twilight of her career, facing a dramatic turning point thanks to yours truly."

Panettiere noted her rapid ascent from a less central role to closely competing with Britton's character. "I was 23 years old, and Connie was in her 40s with three Emmy nominations under her belt. She was also a new mom. This should have been her time to shine, and while it was in many respects, I was terrified of making Connie worry that I - not my character - was trying to compete with her."

She concluded her reflection by stating, "I was not going to step on the toes of Rayna Jaymes or Connie Britton."