Hayden Panettiere's 'Nashville' Costar Sings Beautiful Tribute at Grand Ole Opry

Hayden Panettiere 'Nashville' Costar Pays Tribute at Grand Ole Opry Published August 24, 2026 12:10 PM PDT Hayden Panettiere was honored on the Grand Ole Opry stage over the weekend by her"Nashville" costar ... and the emotional moment was a legit tearjerker. Check out the video, but make sure you have some tissues nearby ... Charles "Chip" Esten sang "Somewhere in the Sunshine" as a picture of him and Hayden remained on the screen. Chip was among dozens and dozens of celebs who shared their shock and heartbreak over the actress' sudden death in a South Carolina apartment on August 16 ... and in a strange twist, Chip was playing a show at the venue connected to the apartment complex the weekend she died. In a previous tribute posted to social media, Chip said Hayden was "a bright light" and "amazingly gifted." Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. The late actress was best known for her roles as Juliette Barnes on "Nashville" and Claire Bennet in "Heroes." Hayden's death remains under investigation by authorities ... including the DEA. Related articles Chip Esten Hayden Panettiere Movie Stars Celebrity News Hayden Panettiere Death Celebrity Death Country Music TV Stars