Hayden Panettiere’s ‘Nashville’ Husband Jonathan Jackson Pays Tribute To “Amazingly Gifted” Star: “You Will Always Be In Our Hearts”

Jonathan Jackson paid tribute to his Nashville co-star Hayden Panettiere with a heartfelt note.

Jackson played Panettiere’s husband Avery Barkley in the musical drama throughout the show’s six-season run.

“I have no words to express the loss of our beloved Hayden,” read the Instagram post. “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.”

He continued, “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.”

Panettiere and Jackson’s characters in Nashville had a roller-coaster ride. Avery and Panettiere’s Juliette Barnes meet in the first season, and the magnetism they radiate is seen from the start. Their characters eventually marry, and they have a baby. Juliette then suffers from postpartum depression, addiction, and a near-death experience following a plane crash. Despite their on-and-off relationship, in the end they decide to stay together, as their love withstands it all.

“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,” Jackson added. “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.”