Hayden Panettiere‘s friends are sharing their final memories of the beloved actress, and one text message in particular encapsulates her essence as a person.
The “Heroes” and “Nashville” star passed away on Sunday, August 16, at just 36 years old, leaving fans and loved ones devastated.
As tributes pour in, musician Clayton Johnson has revealed the wholesome last text he received from Hayden Panettiere.
In a moving tribute to the late Hayden Panettiere, Nashville-based artist Johnson shared the final, poignant exchange he had with the actress before her sudden passing.
“Sweet Hayden. I spent last night trying to process, to try to find the right words, but there really aren’t any,” Johnson wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post shared on Monday, August 17. “More than anything, I hope you’re at peace now and reunited with Jansen.”
Panettiere’s tragic death occurs less than three years after the loss of her younger brother, Jansen, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 30.
The two siblings shared a remarkably close bond, and Panettiere had frequently spoken with raw vulnerability about the profound weight of grief she had carried since his untimely departure.
Alongside his written message, Johnson posted a video of the pair singing together, reflecting on a final text message from Panettiere that beautifully captured her enduringly optimistic spirit and her desire for global harmony.
“It’s been a couple of weeks since our last phone call, 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,’” Johnson recalled in his post, noting affectionately, “That was you in a nutshell.”
The musician concluded his emotional remembrance by expressing deep gratitude for their shared history: “I’m grateful I got to know you. And I’ll always be grateful for the memories. Fly high, Hayden.”
The Actress Was Found In An ‘Unresponsive’ State
Officers and EMS personnel responded to reports of an “unresponsive female,” who turned out to be the “Nashville” star, at a luxury apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, according to the Greenville Police Department.
The 911 dispatch audio revealed she suffered “cardiac arrest” from a suspected “overdose.”
Emergency responders reportedly administered advanced cardiac life support, including special medicines, breathing tubes, and heart rhythm tracking, but efforts to revive the actress were unsuccessful.
The investigation is being led by the Greenville Police Department and Greenville County Coroner’s Office. An autopsy was completed on Monday, August 17.
A department spokesperson has since said that a preliminary investigation had not “indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances,” and “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.”
The cause and manner of death for Panettiere remain pending further investigation and additional studies.
Hayden Panettiere Spoke About How Devastating Her Brother Jansen’s Death Was For Her
4Panettiere first captured hearts as a child star, appearing in “Remember the Titans” and “Ice Princess” before landing breakthrough roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville.”
She had spoken openly about the struggles she faced, including mental health challenges and the devastating loss of her brother Jansen in 2023, whom she said she would “never get over.”
“He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him,” she told People Magazine in 2024. “When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul.”
Then very recently, on Jay Shetty’s podcast, she admitted: “When he first died, I just remember screaming, ‘I don’t want to live in a world where he doesn’t exist.’ I will always be heartbroken about it.”
“I will never be able to get over it,” Panettiere added about Jansen’s passing.
Hayden Panettiere’s Final Public Event Before Her Passing
4Panettiere made her final public appearance in May at a Los Angeles book event for her memoir, “This is Me: A Reckoning,” published in 2026, which became a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.
The memoir detailed her experiences as a child star, addiction and recovery, postpartum depression, trauma, and how she managed to cope with the death of her brother.
At a book event that month, she reflected on the impact her story had on others who had similar experiences as her.
“So many people have come up to me within the industry and outside of the industry and shared their stories with me and said, ‘Because you’ve talked about your mental health, it gave me the courage to be honest about mine and get myself help, and you saved my life,’” she said at the time.
Panettiere then mentioned that this made her memoir confessions worthwhile, adding that she hoped to one day “leave the world a better place” than she found it.
Tributes Pour In For The Late Star
4Since news of her passing made headlines, fans of Panettiere have paid tribute to the actress, stressing how talented and kind she was.
One individual wrote on Instagram, “This is the most shocking news. I remember seeing one of your first roles in Remember the Titans. Loved your work in Heroes as well. Rest easy and may god be with you, Hayden.”
“You deserved an easier, more peaceful, and much, much longer life. Rest Easy,” another fan commented.
One more person noted, “So devastated. I remember as a kid how much you captivated my screen, from Bring It On to Ice Princess, always one of my faves. So sad to see that you’re no longer with us.”
The actress is survived by her 11-year-old daughter Kaya, whom she shared with her ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko.