Hayden Panettiere has been reflecting on the complex emotions she felt while working with Connie Britton on the television series Nashville. In her newly released memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, the actress shares insights into her feelings of unease as her role on the show unexpectedly expanded over time.
Panettiere, who is now 36, portrayed Juliette Barnes, a rising country music star, opposite Britton’s iconic character Rayna Jaymes in the ABC and later CMT series that first aired in 2012. In her memoir, she wrote about how her character was not meant to be the central figure of the show. “That honor went to Connie, whose Rayna Jaymes was in the twilight of her career, facing a dramatic turning point thanks to yours truly. Juliette wasn’t necessarily Rayna’s enemy, but she was the antagonist.”
As the show gained popularity, Panettiere found herself increasingly central to the storyline. “Unfortunately, after the pilot, it was clear that my billing had gone way up,” she recalled. “I went from maybe number five in terms of importance to nipping at Connie’s heels. I was deeply uncomfortable with this development.”
The actress also admitted that she feared the shift could create tension between herself and Britton, who was already an established television veteran. “I was 23 years old, and Connie was in her 40s with three Emmy nominations under her belt,” she shared. “This should have been her time to shine, and while it was in many respects, I was terrified of making Connie worry that I — not my character — was trying to compete with her.”
Panettiere revealed that she made a conscious effort to show respect for Britton during intense scenes. “We were directed to saunter toward the mic stand and — at the same time — reach to grab it. This would insinuate our characters’ rivalry,” she explained. “I always made sure to grab the mic under Connie’s hand, showing her I came in peace and with respect. I don’t know if she noticed, but I did; I was not going to step on the toes of Rayna Jaymes or Connie Britton.”
During a 2024 interview with People, Britton spoke warmly about seeing her former co-star overcome personal struggles. “I’m so happy that she is in that place, and I hope she’s in a great place,” Britton said. “I really applaud how [she] has gone through a really difficult time and done a lot of work and has come out on the other side.”
Britton also mentioned that the pair hadn’t seen each other “in a while” but still expressed support for Panettiere’s film Amber Alert. “And so I only wish her just peace in her heart, and I can’t wait to see the movie,” she added.
Earlier, Britton admitted she wasn’t fully aware of everything Panettiere had gone through personally after the show ended. “I, honestly — I’m not super aware of what’s going on,” she told Us Weekly in 2019. “I’ve heard little bits and pieces. I try to just stick to the things that I hear from people I trust.”
