Current:Home > reviewsHayden Panettiere breaks silence on younger brother's death: 'I lost half my soul' -WealthTrail Solutions
Hayden Panettiere breaks silence on younger brother's death: 'I lost half my soul'
View
Date:2025-04-14 15:23:57
Hayden Panettiere is opening up about younger brother Jansen Panettiere's death.
In a People magazine interview published Wednesday, the "Nashville" alum opened up about losing Jansen, who died of an undiagnosed heart condition last year at 28.
"He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him," Panettiere told People. "When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul."
Her younger brother's death came during the start of a career comeback for Panettiere. She was out of an on-again, off-again relationship with her ex after a highly publicized breakup, and sober after a yearslong struggle with drugs and alcohol addiction, including time spent time at an in-patient rehab facility in early 2020, according to People.
Panettiere also spent time during her first time in rehab while filming the fourth season of "Nashville" in 2015, and in 2021, she entered a 12-step program and began trauma therapy.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Hayden Panettiere and family mourn'brilliant' Jansen Panettiere, reveal his cause of death
"I had to see horrific paparazzi pictures of myself coming out of Jansen's funeral, which happened in a very private place, and it was shocking," she told People. "My agoraphobia came out, which is something I've struggled with in the past." Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that involves fearing and avoiding places or situations that might cause panic and feelings of being trapped, helpless or embarrassed, according to Mayo Clinic.
Panettiere gained weight and "just ballooned out," she told People, saying she "didn't feel confident to put on clothes and get out of the house, but I also knew that I needed to get out and keep moving or I'd never stop looking and feeling this way."
She called the time period "a destructive hamster wheel of, 'do I feel good enough to go out?'" but the star recovered on long walks with personal trainer Marnie Alton, to whom she was introduced by her publicist. She told People that Alton "empowered" her during "these long, beautiful walks where we could vent and it would be this therapy session."
Panettiere told People she has a new outlook on life after losing her brother.
"When something that massive has happened to you, you really learn to pick your fights and just not let the little things upset you," she said in the People interview. "Because once something so horrific, so deep, so catastrophic happens in your life, there's not much that can really rock you."
She continued: "I will always be heartbroken about it. I will never be able to get over it. No matter how many years go by, I will never get over his loss."
Jansen Panettiere death was 'sudden,' family said
At the time of Jansen's death, Panettiere's parents Lesley Vogul and Skip Panettiere said in a statement that his "sudden passing was due to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart,) coupled with aortic valve complications."
"It is with great sorrow we share the tremendous, untimely loss of our beautiful Jansen," the family said.
Cardiomegaly has several causes, with high blood pressure among the most common, per Mayo Clinic. Some people experience no signs or symptoms, while others may experience shortness of breath, an irregular heart rhythm or swelling of the belly or legs.
veryGood! (36)
Related
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- Elijah Blue Allman's divorce dismissal refiled amid mom Cher's conservatorship request
- Sofia Vergara sheds Modern Family image for new role as notorious drug lord in Griselda
- As Gaza's communication blackout grinds on, some fear it is imperiling lives
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Galaxy S24, AI launch event: How to watch Samsung's 'Galaxy Unpacked 2024'
- Idaho man wins state's $1 million raffle, plans to pay for his children's college
- DOJ's Uvalde report finds unimaginable failure in school shooting response. Here are the key takeaways.
- Big Lots store closures could exceed 300 nationwide, discount chain reveals in filing
- 5 people injured in series of 'unprovoked' stabbings in NYC; man arrested, reports say
Ranking
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- South Carolina roads chief Christy Hall retires with praise for billions in highway improvements
- Christina Applegate, who has MS, gets standing ovation at Emmys
- Singaporean minister charged for corruption, as police say he took tickets to F1 races as bribes
- Southern California rocked by series of earthquakes: Is a bigger one brewing?
- Sonic has free food for teachers and school staff this week. Here's how to redeem.
- Taylor Swift leads 2024 iHeartRadio Music Award Noms, followed by Jelly Roll, 21 Savage and SZA
- Rhea Perlman, Danny DeVito and when couples stay married long after they've split
Recommendation
Jamaica's Kishane Thompson more motivated after thrilling 100m finish against Noah Lyles
Another Turkish soccer club parts ways with an Israeli player over his posting on Gaza hostages
Jennifer Lopez's tumultuous marriages on display in wild 'This Is Me…Now: A Love Story' trailer
The 10 greatest movies of Sundance Film Festival, from 'Clerks' to 'Napoleon Dynamite'
Billy Bean was an LGBTQ advocate and one of baseball's great heroes
5 people injured in series of 'unprovoked' stabbings in NYC; man arrested, reports say
Amazon to carry several pro sports teams' games after investment in Diamond Sports
Teen struck and killed while trying to help free vehicle in snowstorm