Hayden Panettiere will return to the ABC soap Nashville following her medical leave for treatment of postpartum depression, TVLine reports.
According to the website, the 26-year-old actress returned to the set on Friday to resume playing her character, Juliette Barnes, who was last seen in the Nov. 18 episode.
Panettiere took leave in October after announcing that she would be taking a break from the series to seek treatment for postpartum depression, which manifested after the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in December 2014 with fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.
Exclusive: Hayden Panettiere Returns to #Nashville Following Medical Leave https://t.co/G7CF1D5HOz pic.twitter.com/dYykW9DEmA
— TVLine.com (@TVLine) January 9, 2016
Although ABC has made no comment on Panettiere’s return to the series, TVLine reported that Juliette will next appear in episode 14, which will air in April.
Ironically, in the show’s storyline, Panettiere’s character was suffering from postpartum depression this season after giving birth to her first child with Avery (Jonathan Jackson).
Jackson told E! News after Panettiere’s announcement that his co-star was doing well with her treatment.
“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,” said Jackson. “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.”
Hayden Panettiere returns to #Nashville: https://t.co/j4PfYuLZMQ pic.twitter.com/YHE03dNcSc
— IMDb TV (@IMDbTV) January 9, 2016
Co-star Lennon Stella agreed.
“She’s doing good!” said Stella. “You know, she’s doing what she’s doing, and we’re like super supportive.”
Nashville returns to ABC on March 16.