'Nashville' star Charles Esten remembers Hayden Panettiere as a 'dear and beautiful friend'
Photo: Instagram @charlesten
Charles Esten is remembering his late Nashville co-star Hayden Panettiere, sharing a heartfelt tribute following the actress' death at 36.
Esten, who played country singer Deacon Claybourne on all six seasons of the ABC drama, shared a series of photos from their time on the show on Instagram, recalling how their friendship began when they first met during auditions.
Esten said he had just finished his audition and was hoping he had done well when he accidentally bumped into Panettiere as he walked out of the soundstage. She had been listening to his audition and immediately smiled and told him, "That was so good!!"
A longtime fan of Panettiere's work on Heroes, Esten said her encouragement meant a great deal to him. He jokingly told her, "See you on the set!" After they both landed their roles, Panettiere reminded him of the comment when he arrived to begin filming, walking up to him and saying, "See you on the set."
Panettiere also showcased her singing abilities on the series, recording the song Undermine with Esten for the Nashville soundtrack. Esten said working with her as an actor and singer was a "great gift" and praised the kindness she showed towards his family, particularly his wife, Patty.
"What a great gift it was to act with her, sing with her, and to just be her friend," Esten wrote. "Together, we are heartbroken that she is gone."
Panettiere died on August 16 at the age of 36. She was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, where she was staying. According to the local coroner, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. An autopsy found no signs of trauma, while the cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and additional testing.
Esten's tribute follows an outpouring of memories from Panettiere's former Nashville co-stars, including Connie Britton and Sam Palladio, who have also mourned the actress and celebrated her talent and impact on the series.