Hayden Panettiere Reflects On Her Brother’s Death In Emotional Conversation On ‘Today’: “I’m Doing This For Him”

Hayden Panettiere got candid about her grief during a recent appearance on Today With Hoda & Jenna when Hoda Kotb asked her about her late brother’s sudden death.

“We’ve all at some point lost someone we love,” Kotb began telling the Amber Alert star. “I lost my dad, you lost your brother, Jenna [Bush Hager] lost her grandfather, we’ve all lost people, and that feeling is so empty and difficult.”

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She continued, “We all have different ways of coping with grief, how have you been able to process the death of your brother?”

Jansen Panettiere passed away in February 2023 at the age of 28 from cardiomegaly. Panettiere admitted to Kotb and Bush Hager that she still doesn’t feel like she’s accepted the sudden loss.

“I don’t know that I fully have,” she responded. “I think it’s something that transforms over time… Yes, there are five stages, but there’s so much more in between. And when you lose somebody that you saw in all the important moments in your life standing right next to you, it just rocks your world.”

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Bush Hager pointed out, “I know there was a time where it was hard to leave the house and here you are on national television,” prompting Hayden to respond, “I’m doing this for him. I want to leave this world a better place for him.”

Jansen was also an actor who appeared in Even Stevens , Blue’s Clues , The Walking Dead , and more. He starred alongide Hayden in Tiger Cruise and Racing Stripes .

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Hayden released a touching statement remembering Jansen’s “charisma, warmth, compassion for others, and his creative spirit.”

Though her acting career has slowed down from the time she dominated the silver screen as a young actress, Hayden has continued working through her grief. She became emotional during a GMA appearance she did soon after his death to promote Scream VI .

Michael Strahan ended their interview by offering his condolences to her family over the loss.

“He’s right here with me,” she responded through tears.

Hayden is next set to appear alongside Tyler James Williams in the upcoming thriller Amber Alert .

Today with Hoda & Jenna airs on weekdays at 10/9c on NBC.

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