Clare Bowen penned a heartfelt tribute to former Nashville costar Hayden Panettiere just days after her death at age 36.
“It’s been raining in the treehouse for days.. for you.. you whispered like you’d found the sun, just in June,” Bowen, 42, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, August 19, alongside several black-and-white photos of the pair. “But you always were full of surprises and dreams pulling at threads and the lines in between.”
The actress’ tribute to Panettiere resembled lyrics from a song or poem, shining a light on their longtime friendship.
“So for now.. I’ll remember nights side by side in a nest on the same street by fate,” Bowen continued. “That ridiculous bed the day you got cross that I didn’t scare — then by looking glass light cried for everyone there.”
Bowen — who played Scarlett O’Connor alongside Panettiere’s Juliette Barnes on the country music-centered series — gave fans a glimpse at her silly antics with Panettiere through photos from their past while mourning the loss.
“Thank you for chasing me that day in the dark I was shattered and bruised, a hollowed out heart. You’d been there,” she wrote. “You listened to the bad.. and the worst. Our faces painted with the kisses of a good wolf, a good ghost.”
Bowen added, “I’ll remember you cheeky in pretty red soles. You said kind things about strangeness, old boots — an old soul. You warned me our monsters only half hid at best.. and then fixed the tear in my favorite dress.”
Bowen shared a picture of Panettiere smiling and celebrating as she wrote, “One, in so many in pain, in plain sight with the last of yourself you kicked on the lights. We’ll see you someday in your beautiful wings, where vultures and spinners aren’t worthy to sing.”
The musician continued, “Wove from new gold and celestial breath this isn’t good bye it’s just ‘have a rest.’ We’ll switch all the coffees, ride our horses too fast.. dance with fireflies..and brothers..sisters..friends..under that beautiful blanket of stars.”
Bowen concluded her post with a special message to Panettiere. “Fly safe little butterfly. I miss you. love, luna moth,” she wrote.
Panettiere and Bowen became friends while filming ABC’s Nashville, which premiered in 2012. Both actresses played musicians and were close in age, remaining with the show through its four seasons on ABC and an additional two on CMT. The series ended in 2018.
In the years since Nashville, Bowen has continued to tour with many of her former castmates while Panettiere took a step back from Hollywood before ultimately returning to acting in 2023.
Three years later, tragedy struck and Us confirmed that Panettiere died on Sunday, August 16, in Greenville, South Carolina, while reportedly in town to see a friend play at The Foundry.
Nashville alum Charles Esten had been booked to perform two nights at the venue, with his last show being one day before Panettiere’s death.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office told Us in a statement on Monday, August 17, that paramedics responded to a call on Sunday regarding a “reported cardiac arrest” and found Panettiere unresponsive at the scene.
“EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM,” the medical examiner’s statement read.
Panettiere’s cause of death has not yet been confirmed, but the autopsy, completed on Monday, showed “no signs of trauma” that would have contributed to her death.
According to a police report by Us, Panettiere’s ex Brian Hickerson and his brother were on the scene at the apartment complex where the Heroes alum’s body was discovered.
Hickerson provided a “bag of medication” that Panettiere was “currently on,” per the report, while dispatch audio previously obtained by People mentioned an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” around the time of her death.
Prior to her death, Panettiere’s close friends were “worried” about her well-being, with a source exclusively telling Us that “she started spending time with Brian again.”
Panettiere and Hickerson dated from 2018 to 2021 when he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend and served 33 days in prison for abusing the Remember the Titans actress.
Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya, 11, whom she shared with ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
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).
