Gayle King is looking back on her interview with Hayden Panettiere from earlier this year in the wake of her death at age 36. Panettiere made an appearance on CBS Mornings in May to promote her tell-all memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning. It transpired to be one of the actor’s final interviews.
On Monday’s episode of CBS Mornings, King said news of her death Sunday is “so, so sad” and “heartbreaking.” “It was hard when she was here that day,” King, 71, recalled of her interview. To wake up to hear this news was really tough. She would have turned 37 on Friday.” During her May interview on CBS Mornings, Panettiere spoke about how her memoir explored her struggles with alcohol and opioid addiction, as well as her mental health, including postpartum depression and the grief she experienced after her younger brother died in 2023.
The Nashville star told King at the time that she was the “rawest version” of herself and still “overwhelmed by the subject matter” of the book. The former child star went on to say that she was “still working on myself all the time” in therapy. She told King, “I’m better, healthier than I’ve been in a long time.” New subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial.
Plan auto-renews until cancelled. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. At the time, she shared hopes of her memoir being able to “share with the world that they don’t have to be afraid... that they can be imperfect.” Panettiere died Sunday at an apartment building in South Carolina after police were called to the scene for a woman in cardiac arrest.
Her cause of death has not yet been publicly identified. Officials said no foul play is suspected, and that her friend called 911 in the afternoon. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI) or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
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