Sylvia Jefferies, who played Hayden Panettiere’s mother on Nashville, has paid an emotional tribute to the actress following her sudden death at the age of 36.
Panettiere died Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, just days before what would have been her 37th birthday on August 21.
Reports said Narcan was discovered inside the apartment where she was found, while emergency audio indicated that she had suffered cardiac arrest following a suspected overdose.
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Monday that an autopsy had been completed and found no signs of trauma.
Officials have stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and that a definitive cause of death has not yet been established.
‘She Was Our Tornado’
Jefferies, 57, who portrayed Jolene Barnes, the mother of Panettiere’s Nashville character Juliette Barnes, described their relationship as complicated but deeply affectionate.
Sharing photographs from their time working together, as well as personal messages in which Panettiere called her “Mama,” Jefferies recalled the actress as someone whose personality could be overwhelming but whose warmth was impossible to forget.
She described Panettiere as a “tornado,” explaining that the actress could bring intense emotion and energy into a room before eventually returning to a calmer, gentler presence.
Jefferies also acknowledged the struggles that had followed Panettiere throughout her life, writing that the actress had an “incredibly bright future” but that her “inner demons were at times too much to bear.”
A Relationship That Went Beyond the Set
The bond between the two women continued beyond their work on Nashville.
Jefferies said they grew closer again after she read Panettiere’s memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which was released earlier this year.
She said the book allowed her to see more of the woman behind the actress and praised Panettiere for having the courage to reveal painful parts of her life.
The pair had also made plans to meet again when Panettiere passed through Greenville.
Jefferies recalled hoping they might attend a performance by fellow Nashville star Charles Esten around her birthday.
Their birthdays were only a week apart, something Jefferies said added another personal connection between them.
Investigation Into Panettiere’s Death Continues
Authorities have yet to confirm exactly what caused Panettiere’s death.
Although Narcan was reportedly found at the scene, Chief Deputy Coroner Shelton England said it was too early to draw conclusions about a possible drug overdose.
It also remains unclear whether the medication had been administered in an attempt to revive her.
The completed autopsy found no evidence of physical trauma, with further investigation and testing expected to help determine the circumstances surrounding her death.
A Long and Public Battle With Addiction
Panettiere had spoken openly about addiction during her lifetime.
She previously revealed that her struggles with drugs began when she was a teenager and said she initially used prescription medication because she believed it would make her appear more energetic during interviews.
Her difficulties intensified following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014.
Panettiere experienced severe postpartum depression and later developed an alcohol dependency.
She said she initially turned to wine to cope with the emotional pain, but eventually recognized that treating her drinking problem alone had not addressed the depression underlying it.
In a 2022 interview, Panettiere said maintaining sobriety remained an ongoing process.
She described it as an everyday decision and expressed gratitude for being able to rebuild her life.
Motherhood Became One of Her Greatest Struggles
Panettiere also endured serious complications during childbirth.
She recalled suffering a hemorrhage and undergoing seven blood transfusions and surgery after doctors discovered that blood vessels were failing.
The experience left her deeply concerned for her daughter’s survival.
Following Kaya’s birth, however, Panettiere said she struggled emotionally and eventually made the painful decision to allow her former fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, to have full custody of their daughter.
Kaya, now 11, lives in Europe with her father.
Panettiere repeatedly emphasized that the decision was not made because she wanted to abandon her daughter.
Instead, she said she recognized that she needed professional help before she could become the mother she wanted to be.
‘I Completely Lost Myself’
Reflecting on that period, Panettiere said she had been dealing with anxiety, postpartum depression and a profound sense of losing her identity.
She described the custody decision as one of the most painful choices of her life, but maintained that she believed putting Kaya first meant getting the help she desperately needed.
Panettiere later spoke about maintaining a close relationship with her daughter despite their physical separation.
She said she spoke with Kaya frequently and remained proud of the young woman she was becoming.
She also hoped that her daughter would eventually understand why she had been unable to be with her all the time.
Her Memoir Revealed the Depth of Her Pain
Panettiere’s memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, gave her an opportunity to address some of those experiences in her own words.
She wrote that living apart from Kaya had been one of the most painful experiences of her life, describing the emotional toll of not being able to raise her daughter under the same roof.
Despite the sadness and anger surrounding their separation, Panettiere described Kaya as the greatest gift of her life.
Remembered Beyond ‘Nashville’ and ‘Heroes’
Panettiere rose to international fame through roles that included Claire Bennet on NBC’s Heroes before taking on the role of Juliette Barnes on Nashville.
Her performance as the troubled country singer earned her widespread recognition and established her as one of television‘s most prominent young actresses.
For Jefferies, however, Panettiere was more than the character she played or the star audiences knew from television.
In her farewell, she remembered the personal moments between them, including phone calls, messages and the first time Panettiere called her “Mama.”
A Final Message of Love
Jefferies ended her tribute by reflecting on the devastating reality that Panettiere was no longer only a phone call or message away.
She said she found some comfort in believing that the actress was finally at peace and imagined her reunited with her late brother and surrounded by the dolphins she had cared deeply about.
“Love you, sweet girl,” Jefferies wrote, closing her tribute with a simple message that captured the affection she continued to hold for her former co-star.
Panettiere’s death has left behind a career remembered by millions of viewers and a deeply personal story marked by fame, motherhood, addiction, recovery and resilience.
