Connie Britton Recalls How “Nashville” Co-Star Hayden Panettiere Helped Her Through A “Hard” Time
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Actress Connie Britton adopted her son, Yoby, from Ethiopia in 2011. He was nine months old at the time of his adoption, and Connie was raising him as a single mother.
Not long after welcoming Yoby into her life, Connie was cast as Rayna James in the musical drama series Nashville. She moved herself and Yoby to the real-life “Music City,” where she didn’t know anyone.
Connie was also brand-new to singing, which she had to do while playing Rayna. “It was a very steep learning curve,” she told PEOPLE in a recent cover story.
A new city, honing a new skill, and life as a new mom made working on Nashville a challenging experience for Connie at times. She told PEOPLE, “Nashville was hard. I did not have a support system.”
RELATED: HAYDEN PANETTIERE EARNED 11 REAL-LIFE COUNTRY HITS WHEN SHE STARRED ON “NASHVILLE” – HEAR EVERY ONE
But soon, Connie received some much-needed support from one of her co-stars. Despite playing Rayna’s rival, Juliette Barnes, Nashville actress Hayden Panettiere jumped to help Connie when she needed a friend.
“I really was looking for my village when I moved there with my tiny baby, and I needed help,” Connie told PEOPLE.
She continued to share a tender memory of Hayden that fans never got to see, saying, “Every time Yoby was on-set and Hayden was there, she’d just stop everything. Everything became about Yoby. It just felt like sweetness.”
Connie’s comments come nearly two months after Hayden passed away on August 16.
Her autopsy report, which Greenville County Coroner Mike Ellis provided to Country Rebel on September 22, lists her death as “accidental.” The report states her death was caused by “[the] toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine.”
Connie Britton Shared A Touching Tribute To Hayden Panettiere After Her Death
Connie Britton remembered Hayden Panettiere in a heart-tugging tribute she posted on August 17, the day after her death. She shared several photos taken of the two of them together, but also included some pictures of Hayden on her own.
Connie’s caption was short, but it clearly captured her love for Hayden. She wrote:
“This was Hayden. Bursting with brilliance, shining so bright. I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now.”
A memorial service was held for Hayden in Malibu, California, on September 19. TMZ reported that Connie was in attendance, as well as Nashville star Charles Esten, who played Deacon Claybourne on the series.
Connie reportedly spoke during the service, as did Charles. TMZ reports that he also performed one of Hayden’s songs from Nashville.
Our hearts go out to all who loved Hayden. May she rest in peace.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health problems or substance use, please reach out to one of the following hotlines: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ( 1-800-662-4357), the National Drug Helpline (1-844-289-0879), or the American Addiction Centers hotline (866-464-3073).
