One month after Hayden Panettiere’s death at age 36, some of the people who knew her best gathered in Malibu, California, for an intimate celebration of life honoring the actress, singer and mother.

Around 150 guests attended the memorial on Saturday, Sept. 19, including Panettiere’s former Nashville co-stars Connie Britton, Charles Esten, Lennon Stella and Jonathan Jackson, as well as Ruby Rose, Paris Hilton, Evan Ross and other longtime friends.

Panettiere’s father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere, was also among those who came together to remember her.

The service was described by people in attendance as emotional and beautiful, with speeches, music and a symbolic release of doves outside the church before mourners moved inside for the ceremony.

Malibu Was Chosen for a Personal Reason

The memorial was held at a church in Malibu, a location selected in part because of Panettiere’s deep connection to the ocean.

Those close to the actress said she loved whales and the sea, making the coastal setting an especially meaningful place for family and friends to gather.

A large photograph of Panettiere smiling welcomed guests and helped set the tone for a ceremony intended to focus on her life rather than only the circumstances of her death.

Before the formal service began, doves were released into the air outside the church.

The moment offered a quiet visual tribute as friends, family members and former colleagues prepared to enter the sanctuary.

Her ‘Nashville’ Family Played a Major Role

Panettiere spent six seasons portraying country singer Juliette Barnes on Nashville, and the relationships she developed through the series were strongly represented at the memorial.

Connie Britton, who played Rayna Jaymes, attended and delivered remarks honoring her former co-star.

Charles Esten, who portrayed Deacon Claybourne, also spoke.

He then added a musical tribute, performing one of Panettiere’s songs from the series with a band during the service.

For fans of the show, the performance carried particular meaning.

Music had been central to Panettiere’s portrayal of Juliette, and many of the songs she performed during the series became closely associated with the character and with the actress herself.

Other Nashville cast members, including Lennon Stella and Jonathan Jackson, were also among the mourners.

Ruby Rose Remembered Her ‘Best Friend’

Another deeply personal tribute came from Ruby Rose.

Shortly before attending the memorial, Rose became emotional while speaking publicly about her friendship with Panettiere.

She described the actress as her best friend and said they had spoken every day for approximately five years.

Rose said their friendship began unexpectedly after Panettiere approached her and the two quickly developed a close connection.

Their relationship remained largely private compared with some of Panettiere’s more public friendships, making Rose’s comments after her death especially revealing.

She also said Panettiere had wanted the chance to tell her own story on her own terms — something the actress had increasingly tried to do in the final years of her life.

Other Friends From Across Hollywood Attended

The gathering extended beyond Panettiere’s television family.

Paris Hilton and Evan Ross were among the familiar faces seen arriving at the memorial.

Other attendees included Beverly D’Angelo, Cameron Richardson, Storm Santos and Caroline D’Amore.

The mix of guests reflected the many phases of Panettiere’s career and personal life, from her years as a child performer to her roles in major television dramas and films.

Some attendees had known her for decades.

Others became close to her later in life.

Together, they gathered less as a Hollywood crowd and more as people mourning someone who had been part of their personal lives.

Her Mother and Boyfriend Were Not Seen at the Service

Two notable figures were absent from the memorial.

Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, did not attend.

Reports before the service indicated that Brian and his brother, Zach Hickerson, had not been invited.

Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, was also absent.

Initial reports suggested Vogel had likewise not been invited, but a source close to her later disputed that account and said she missed the service because of a family emergency.

Panettiere had been estranged from her mother before her death, and the relationship had been publicly strained.

Her relationship with Hickerson had also been complicated and highly publicized over the years.

Neither absence appeared to overshadow the memorial itself, which remained focused on Panettiere’s life and the people who had come to remember her.

Her Father Publicly Mourned a ‘Force of Nature’

Panettiere’s father has spoken openly about the depth of the family’s loss.

In a statement after her death, he described his daughter as a bright light and a powerful personality whose presence was impossible to ignore.

The loss was especially painful for a family that had already experienced tragedy.

Panettiere’s younger brother, Jansen, died in 2023 at age 28 due to complications from an enlarged heart.

Hayden frequently spoke about how deeply his death affected her.

The siblings had been extremely close, and friends said the loss remained a major source of grief for her.

Panettiere Leaves Behind Her Daughter Kaya

Panettiere is also survived by her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.

Kaya is now 11.

Klitschko was not seen publicly at the Malibu memorial, nor was Kaya, although he previously shared his own tribute following Panettiere’s death.

Panettiere had spoken openly over the years about motherhood and about the complexities of raising her daughter while navigating career pressures and personal struggles.

Her role as Kaya’s mother remained one of the most important parts of her life away from acting.

A Career That Began in Childhood

Panettiere spent most of her life in the public eye.

She began working as a child and became widely recognizable through projects including Remember the Titans and later the television series Heroes, where she played Claire Bennet.

Her role as Juliette Barnes on Nashville became one of the defining performances of her career.

The character allowed her to combine acting with music while portraying a woman struggling with ambition, motherhood, fame and mental health.

Panettiere also appeared in the Scream franchise, returning years later to reprise her role as Kirby Reed.

By the time of her death, she had built a career spanning decades.

But in recent years, much of the public conversation around her had shifted from professional achievements to her personal life.

She Had Become Increasingly Open About Her Struggles

Panettiere spoke publicly about addiction, relationships, motherhood, abuse and mental health.

Rather than presenting a polished version of her life, she increasingly discussed the periods when things were difficult.

Friends said that honesty was part of the person they knew privately.

Rose’s comments about speaking with Panettiere every day for five years also revealed how much of her life remained unseen by the broader public.

Behind headlines about relationships or health struggles was a network of friends who remained closely connected to her.

Many of those people were the ones filling the Malibu church on Saturday.

Questions About Her Death Remain

Panettiere died on Aug. 16 in South Carolina.

Her death has been described as an apparent overdose, but authorities have continued investigating the circumstances surrounding what happened.

Officials have said there were no signs of trauma contributing to her death.

Reports have focused on the possibility that she consumed a pill containing fentanyl, but a final official toxicology determination has not been publicly released.

For that reason, the precise medical cause of death should not yet be treated as conclusively established.

The investigation has continued while family and friends move through a separate process of grieving.

A Celebration Focused on the Person Behind the Headlines

Saturday’s gathering was not structured around the unresolved investigation.

It was about Panettiere herself.

Friends spoke.

Music was performed.

Doves were released.

People who had worked with her stood alongside people who had known her privately.

For those attending, the goal appeared to be remembering more than the difficult final chapters of her life.

They remembered the actress who had spent decades on screen.

The singer who performed songs that stayed with fans long after Nashville ended.

The friend who called every day.

The daughter and sister whose family had already endured profound loss.

And the mother whose daughter will carry her memory forward.

One month after Hayden Panettiere’s death, the questions surrounding her final hours have not all been answered.

But inside a church overlooking the California coast, the people closest to her gathered for something different: a final opportunity to remember the life that came before them.