‘Nashville’ Star Charles Esten Recalls Emotional First Meeting With Hayden Panettiere After Her Sudden Death

Nashville's Charles Esten is opening up about his former costar Hayden Panettiere after her sudden, tragic death.

On Instagram, he penned a lengthy message about her, beginning with, "Patty [Hanson, his wife] and I are stunned and saddened at the loss of our dear and beautiful friend Hayden."

The two starred on the hit ABC series from 2012 to 2018, with Esten playing songwriter Deacon Claybourne while Panettiere starred as rising country music star Juliette Barnes.

In his message, Esten continued, "I will never forget the first time I met her."

"In a sound stage office in Hollywood, I was finishing up my very first Nashville audition. I had read two Deacon scenes before pulling out my guitar and singing two songs," he began, sharing the story of how the two met while auditioning for Nashville.

"I said my goodbyes and, hoping I’d done well, went to open the door to leave. Instead of swinging all the way out, the door bumped into somebody. Kinda hard," the 60-year-old star recalled.

He went on, "To my complete surprise, it was Hayden Panettiere, who — in full Juliette Barnes mode — had been listening with her ear to the door."

Apparently, instead of looking even a little bit embarrassed or surprised at being caught, Panettiere's "face instantly bloomed into the most beautiful smile. Eyes twinkling, she clapped her hands and said, ‘That was so good!!'"

"I can promise you that in that moment, there was nothing in the world I needed to hear more than that," Esten confessed.

Esten further admitted, "I told her that, along with my Heroes-watching family, I was already a big fan of hers, and that I was grateful for the very kind words. It was her turn to go in, so as I went to leave, I said a jokingly cocky, ‘See you on the set!’"

While it took "many auditions" for him to finally land that "incredible role," Panettiere didn't forget the Outer Banks star after that first meeting. In fact, when he finally "showed up in Nashville to start work, she walked right up to me, pointed in my face, and with that magical grin said, 'See you on the set!'"

In his heartfelt tribute, Esten then mentioned how he became "fast friends" with Panettiere from thereon, "working very hard to play those 2 troubled Nashvillians, but always having fun and laughing a whole lot along the way."

He said, "She was, of course, extraordinarily talented, infusing her larger-than-life character with all the heart, charisma, humor, whip-smart intelligence, and flat-out magic that were, alongside whatever troubles and pain she carried, a part of her own personal palette."

The Grizzly Night star went to express his gratitude for having known and worked alongside her, penning, "What a great gift it was to act with her, sing with her, and to just be her friend. She was always extremely kind to my family, especially my wife, Patty, who I’m certain she liked even more than me."

"Together, we are heartbroken that she is gone, and praying for her family, and for all those who, like us, will miss and mourn her so dearly," he concluded. "God bless you, Hayden. Rest In Peace and Light ❤️"

Panettiere passed away on Sunday, August 16, at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. While an overdose is suspected, her official cause of death has yet to be revealed after a proper autopsy.