|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
by WILL FOLKS
***
Actress and musician Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in the television shows Nashville and Heroes – and the Scream movie franchise – died during a trip to Greenville, South Carolina on Sunday afternoon.
Panettiere was 36 years old.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” a statement from actress’ family noted. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.”
According to TMZ, Panettiere had traveled to the Palmetto State with her “on-again, off-again” boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. The couple dated from 2018-2022, with Hickerson arrested in 2021 for domestic violence.
Panettiere was staying at Judson Mill Lofts when an individual described as an acquaintance of the actress called 911 at approximately 1:51 p.m. EDT on Sunday (August 17, 2026) to report her “unresponsive” and in “cardiac arrest.”
***
First responders arrived on the scene quickly and immediately began to administer “”advanced cardiac life support” – including cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and other measures. Those efforts were unsuccessful, however, and Panettiere was reportedly pronounced dead on the scene at 2:32 p.m. EDT.
The investigation into Panettiere’s death is being conducted by the Greenville Police Department (GPD) and the Greenville County coroner’s office. There has been no initial indication as to the cause or manner of her passing.
Preliminary reports indicate there were no immediate signs of foul play, however an autopsy has been scheduled for Monday (August 17, 2026).
While there has been no confirmation as of yet that drugs were involved in Panettiere’s death, a report from Page Six stated dispatchers were responding to a “suspected overdose.”
Panettiere’s first big Hollywood break came as a child actress in 2000 when she starred alongside Denzel Washington in Remember the Titans. She published a book earlier this year about her life entitled ‘This is Me: A Reckoning.’
Panettiere had an 11-year-old daughter with her former fiancé – Ukrainian boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. She granted full custody of her daughter to Klitschko in 2018, however, as she battled alcoholism, substance abuse and postpartum depression.
“”That was incredibly difficult,” Panettiere told podcaster Jay Shetty earlier this year. “The fact that my child wasn’t going to be with me all day, every day was… you can’t put words to it. It’s just a really intense feeling or multiple feelings really layered together.”
“I’m a work in progress — we all are,” she said in her final interview. “I take each day as it comes. I’m doing the work, and I’m doing my best.”
BANNER VIA: GETTY IMAGES
***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
***
SOUND OFF…
Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our articles? Or an issue you’d like to address proactively? We have an open microphone policy! Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Got a tip for a story? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE.
