Nashville stars: 'Hayden Panettiere is doing well'

Actress Hayden Panettiere is "doing well" in her battle with postpartum depression, according to her Nashville co-stars.

The former Heroes star announced in September (15) that she was struck down with the condition after she gave birth to her daughter Kaya in December, 2014, mirroring a storyline involving her Nashville character Juliette Barnes.

Hayden checked into a treatment centre in October (15) to get help for her depression, and Nashville executives have written her character out of the country music series to allow the actress to take a leave of absence.

She made her first appearance since the revelation last weekend (28-29Nov15) when she supported her fiance Wladimir Klitschko at a boxing match in Germany, and her co-stars have now insisted the actress is getting better.

Connie Britton tells the Associated Press, "We have connected, and I think she's doing really well... She's right where she needs to be, and that's really good, and we all support her in that."

Jonathan Jackson, who plays Hayden's onscreen husband in Nashville, tells E! Online, "I think she seems to be doing really well, and obviously all of us are very excited for her to come back when it's time... But I'm also really grateful that she's taking the time that she needs, and I think that that's really a wonderful example for people."

Lennon Stella, Britton's onscreen daughter, adds, "She's doing good! You know, she's doing what she's doing, and we're like super supportive. We haven't heard any more on when she's coming back, but she's been doing great. We've been in contact with her and she's great."

Aubrey Peeples, who plays singer Layla Grant, says, "We all support her so much, and we're really excited for her return... But we don't have any new information yet."

The cast took part in the CMT Artists of the Year TV special in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday (02Dec15) to collect the first ever International Impact Award.

Hayden and Wladimir became engaged in 2013, and Kaya is their first child together.