Jonathan Jackson Mourns Hayden Panettiere: “A Bright Light” Lost in Hollywood

Jonathan Jackson and Clare Bowen, co-stars from the hit series Nashville, took to social media on Wednesday to share heartfelt tributes honoring their late colleague Hayden Panettiere.

Jackson, who portrayed Avery Barkley—the turbulent romantic interest of Panettiere’s character Juliette Barnes in the ABC country music drama—posted a message on Instagram calling his co-star a “sensitive soul” who was “incredibly funny and witty.”

Panettiere passed away on Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 36. She and Jackson shared the screen on Nashville for six seasons between October 2010 and March 2016. Jackson noted that they both “grew up in the industry,” sharing a “silent knowing of how intense the struggles can be.” He added, “She was an absolute joy to work with. Focused, spontaneous and brilliant. The most important thing between friends and coworkers is trust, and we had this.”

He concluded his initial remarks by stating it was “not possible to express the shock and grief that so many of us feel right now.”

Australian actress Clare Bowen, another Nashville co-star, also shared an Instagram tribute. Bowen, known for her role as Scarlett O’Connor, composed a poem accompanying photos of the two actresses from their time on the show. In one stanza, Bowen wrote: “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.”

In another verse, Bowen added: “We’ll see you someday in your beautiful wings, where vultures and sinners aren’t worthy to sing. Wove from new gold and celestial breath, this isn’t goodbye, it’s just ‘have a rest.'”

Following the announcement of Panettiere’s passing, numerous former co-stars from her extensive film and television career have shared deeply personal and emotional memories. Nashville alumni Connie Britton and Charles Esten, along with Solange Knowles (Bring It On: All or Nothing), Jack Coleman (Heroes), Griff Hurst (A Breed Apart), Neve Campbell (Scream), and Tim Fywell (Ice Princess) have all paid tribute to the late actress.

Below is Jonathan Jackson’s complete statement on Instagram:

“I have no words to express the loss of our beloved Hayden. She had such a bright light within her. She was a sensitive soul. Incredibly funny and witty. Amazingly gifted, with a great sense of empathy and compassion. We both grew up in the industry, although she started even younger than me, but we shared that. A silent knowing of how intense the struggles can be. She was an absolute joy to work with. Focused, spontaneous and brilliant. The most important thing between friends and coworkers is trust, and we had this. Elisa and I both love and cherish her deeply, like our own sister. She holds that place in our hearts. My prayer for her every day we worked together was that she would know how loved she is, and that she would find the peace that she was looking for. It’s not possible to express the shock and grief that so many of us feel right now. Our humble prayers are with her family. May God’s angels carry you to your place of rest and true peace. We love you Hayden. You will always be in our hearts. Always.”

Below is Clare Bowen’s poem, as shared on Instagram:

“It’s been raining in the treehouse for days…for you…you whispered like you’d found the sun, just in June. But you always were full of surprises and dreams pulling at threads and the lines in between. I’ll remember nights side by side in a nest on the same street by fate, that ridiculous bed. The day you got cross that I didn’t scare then by looking glass light cried for everyone there. Thank you for chasing me that day in the dark. I was shattered and bruised, a hollowed out heart. You’d been there. You listened to the bad…and the worst. Our faces painted with the kisses of a good wolf, a good ghost. 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. 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 sinners aren’t worthy to sing. Wove from new gold and celestial breath, this isn’t goodbye, 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. Fly safe, little butterfly. I miss you. Love, Luna Moth.”

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