Hayden Panettiere Opens Up About Nashville Tension

When was first cast as bubblegum country singer Juliette Barnes in 2011 opposite 's fading country legend Rayna Jaymes in ABC's Nashville, she was never intended to be the star.

However, in her newly published memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere, 36, writes that the pair's on-screen tension translated to some awkwardness in real-life. 

By the time the pilot of the critically-acclaimed musical drama went to air, Panettiere's 'billing had gone way up' and she took on a larger role in the series, making her feel uncomfortable about upsetting Britton. 

'I went from maybe number five in terms of importance to nipping at Connie's heels. I was deeply uncomfortable with this development,' the two-time  nominee wrote.

'I was 23 years old, and Connie was in her 40s with three nominations under her belt. She was also a new mom. This should have been her time to shine, and while it was in many respects, I was terrified of making Connie worry that I - not my character - was trying to compete with her.' 

At one point, Panettiere and her onscreen rival were directed to saunter toward a mic stand and reach for it at the same time.

However, once the pilot of Callie Khouri's critically-acclaimed musical drama became a hit, Panettiere's 'billing had gone way up' which she considered a 'bad idea'