Hayden Panettiere’s ‘Nashville’ Co-Star Charles Esten Remembers Their Friendship in Touching Tribute

Charles Esten , who worked alongside Hayden Panettiere on the ABC drama Nashville , remembered their time together and close friendship in a tribute following her tragic death on Sunday at 36.

In an Instagram post, Esten shared a series of photos with Panettiere and cast members. In the caption, he wrote that he and his wife, Patty Hanson, were “heartbroken” by the loss of their dear friend.

“I will never forget the first time I met her,” Esten continued. “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. 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.”

On the other side of the door was Paniettiere, who “in full Juliette Barnes mode,” had been listening to his audition with her ear to the door. Upon seeing him, “her face instantly bloomed into the most beautiful smile,” Esten recalled. “Eyes twinkling, she clapped her hands and said, ‘That was so good!!'”

He said that at that moment, there was “nothing in the world I needed to hear more than that,” and he told her that he and his “HEROES-watching family” were fans of her work and was grateful for her “very kind words.” As it was her turn to walk into the audition room, Esten joked, “See you on the set!”