Hayden Panettiere’s friends continue to share poignant memories of the actress and singer in the wake of her shocking death.
“Sweet Hayden. I spent last night trying to process, to try to find the right words, but there really aren’t any,” musician Clayton Johnson wrote via Instagram on Monday, August 17. “More than anything, I hope you’re at peace now and reunited with Jansen.”
Jansen Panettiere, Hayden’s younger brother, died in 2023 at the age of 28 from an undiagnosed heart condition.
“It’s been a couple of weeks since our last phone call,” Johnson, 37, continued. “But the last thing you ever texted me was, ‘Honestly, people think it’s a joke to ask for world peace, but that would be me.’ That was you in a nutshell.”
The singer continued, “I’m grateful I got to know you, and I’ll always be grateful for the memories. Fly high, Hayden 🤍.”
News broke on Sunday, August 16, that Panettiere had died at the age of 36. Her official cause of death has yet to be revealed.
Authorities in South Carolina confirmed to Us on Monday that police responded to reports of an “unresponsive female” at a residence, later identified as Panettiere.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office also revealed to Us on Monday that an autopsy report has been completed and no signs of trauma were discovered that could have contributed to the actress’ death.
“On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1:51 PM, a 911 call was received regarding a reported cardiac arrest,” read a statement from the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. “First responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and located a female in cardiac arrest. EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM.”
Panettiere made her acting debut as a child and faced a slew of ups and downs in the public eye. The Heroes and Nashville actress took a hiatus from acting in 2018 while struggling with postpartum depression, alcohol and opioid addiction.
Earlier this year, she detailed the highs and lows of her life in the spotlight in a memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning.
“The first thought that went through my head is, ‘Am I ready to write a book about my life?’ Then I started thinking through my life and going, ‘Gosh, truth is stranger than fiction. I have so many stories already to share,’” Panettiere exclusively told Us in May. “I hope that by sharing them in this book, that it helps people to overcome the obstacles they’re going through.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
