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Hayden Panettiere Interview: From Guiding Light to Nashville!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

Beginning next week on Wednesday night, October 10th at 9PMEST/PST, Hayden Panettiere will debut in her new television role of up and coming country recording artist, Juliette Barnes, in the new ABC primetime musical dramatic series and soap… Nashville!

And while Hayden will go toe-to-toe with her co-star Connie Britton (who plays Rayna Barnes) for who is the queen of the country music scene in the new series, Panettiere will also be in story with General Hospital soap favorite and Daytime Emmy winner, Jonathan Jackson who plays singer/songwriter, Avery Barkley.

But before her success on NBC’s Heroes, and now being cast in Nashville, soap fans remember Hayden for her amazing performances at such a young age as little Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light! 

On-Air On-Soaps caught up with Hayden to talk about her daytime start in Springfield and what it meant to her, and what viewers can expect when the highly-touted Nashville begins.  From what we can tell, Hayden is not playing the good girl, in fact, she’s gone bad!

Courtesy/CBS

Hayden you have done daytime and nighttime roles with such fervor! I remember when I was putting together the Guiding Light Tribute for the Daytime Emmys. I used your clip when little Lizzie was battling leukemia.  There was this heartbreaking scene where she is sitting by her bedside praying! So well-done and at such a young age!

HAYDEN: Oh wow! I had leukemia, I was thrown down a well, I was kidnapped, you name it, I had it.

Of all of the television shows you have appeared on, do you have a favorite role?

HAYDEN:  It’s like comparing apples and oranges to me. All of them were amazing for the period of time I was on them in my life.  In regards to Guiding Light, it’s such a pivotal time from 4 to 12-years-old and that is the time that you remember throughout you life, especially something that is so every day, and so constant, and a character that you lived.  It was such a gift to work with Grant Aleksander (Ex-Phillip), Ron Raines (Ex-Alan) and Beth Chamberlin (Ex-Beth), and I loved them.  If I saw them, I would run up to them like I was their child.

Courtesy/CBS

Speaking of Guiding Light, did anyone give you acting tips?  I would say that of all the young child actresses ever to appear on soaps, you were one of the most gifted and natural.  And usually when child actors come on to daytime TV, many times we sit at home and yell at the T.V, “These kids are so phony!”  But not you, Hayden!

HAYDEN:  (Laughs) Thank you, I appreciate it.  My mom was a great coach. I had the privilege of working with amazing people, and I was so emotionally connected to all of them that it hit home for me.  I remember doing a scene where Beth Chamberlin, when Beth had been hit by a car, and I was in the hospital.   I remember being so not in the moment and not in it, and right before they yelled, “action,” I was like, “Oh man. I have to cry now.”  But as soon as I saw her being wheeled in hurt and with scrapes all over her body, it immediately kicked in and hit home.  I started bawling my eyes out immediately. These were people I loved.  I was their kid for all intent and purposes.  I grew up with them.

Now it’s 2012 and you play a tough bitch on Nashville!  Do you like playing the bitch? 

Courtesy/ABC

HAYDEN:   I do like playing the bitch, because it’s something I like to sink my teeth into, and it’s something that I have never gotten to play before. And frankly, it’s fun to play bad.   But it’s much more fun to play bad with a purpose, and a back-story, and with a heart.  I think it’s a story that a lot of people in the viewing audience are going to be able to relate to, and it might not be specifically or exactly, but it may be the feeling.  I don’t think people are born bad, but I think they become the way they are and rough around the edges, because of things that make them hard, and what tests them in life, and what they have to overcome.  At the end of the day, Juliette has become a lost and broken girl who is running from her past, and who will not let anything get her in way.

You had to give yourself a high-five when you got this juicy and delicious role as one of the leads of Nashville, plus getting to work with such a stellar cast that includes: Connie Britton, Eric Close, and former GH star, Jonathan Jackson!

HAYDEN:  Absolutely! I had to fight for it, but it was worth it!  I can’t wait for everyone to see Nashville.

Courtesy/ABC

And speaking of Jonathan Jackson, in the pilot and the promo for Nashville we see the two of you bumping into each other.  There seems to be a spark! Will Juliette and Avery perhaps hit the sheets?

HAYDEN:  If you have a broken heart, you need a rebound, or you’re sad, Juliette is somewhere around the corner!

So will you be checking out Hayden on Nashville next week?  What do you think about her remembrances of her time as Lizzie on Guiding Light?  Do you remember key scenes with Hayden and the Spaulding clan? And what would you think of a Hayden and Jonathan Jackson pairing on Nashville? Weigh-in!

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I remember thinking she was one of the best actors on GL even at that young age. She was amazing. Very real. STILL miss GL!

Good interview!

I remember her when I was little watching “Guiding Light”. She portrayed such a nice rendition of a childhood Lizzie Spaulding. She nailed the cancer storyline, as well!

I’ve been watching my dvds of the years she was on it recently (and still am) and she has always blown me away! When she confessed to killing Carl is amazing, also when Alan had his heart attack and she thought he was going to die. To see such a small child crying at her great, big grandfather who is very weak is amazing and beautiful to see.

i haven’t gotten to lizzie’s leukemia story yet, that’ll be another tough one!

I remember her as Sarah Roberts on OLTL. She also played Anthony Edward’s daughter on ER. Too bad the Nashville is on ABC. I am still boycotting all things rat (except for GH, of course).

Michael, how come you didn’t ask Hayden about her time playing Sarah Roberts on OLTL in this interview?

yeah! that is totally what I think of every time I see her and wasn’t see the lead on HERO too? I only saw that a few times, but she will always be little Sarah Roberts to me! in her little pinafore dresses and curly hair… so cute back then!

Don’t rem. her on OLTL at all but BOY SHE ROCKED on GL. Makes me miss GL, gosh I miss all of our shows that are gone. I watched them all one way or another!
Can’t wait to see her on Nashville. Even though I am boycotting ABC unless it is a “soap”

I am waiting for Nashville. JJ and Hayden both soap alum’s,and not afraid to admit it..The soap fans will b e there for you.
we watched them as youngsters both very talented,and even tho its ABC ,I will watch.
Hayden as Lizzy was amazing,and I did watch heroes..
I don’t really want to support ABC,but I will watch a show where the characters are familiar to me, ABC keeps pushing the commercials for the show during GH.
GL was the first soap I ever watched,so I do miss it more when I see this.

Guiding Light

Tom Pelphrey Takes on The Role of ‘Jesus Christ’ with Y&R’s Courtney Hope as ‘Mary’ in New Podcast Series

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Since first making a name for himself as Reva’s (Kim Zimmer) son, Jonathan Randall on Guiding Light, Tom Pelphrey’s (ex-ATWT and GL) post-soap career has featured many complex and dark roles in television and motion pictures. Now comes perhaps, Pelphrey’s most stunning role when he will play Jesus Christ in a new four–part audio series podcast, called The Christ.

The series is from the Faith Podcast Network who will be releasing the series for Easter. It is being billed as “an audio epic and the first ever full-scale audio dramatization of Jesus’ life across four immersive episodes using cinematic-quality sound, music and performances.” The podcast series will feature more than 100 different characters and can be heard at TheChristPodcast.com

Joining The Ozark and Task star in the cast are some other high-profile Hollywood names including: David Ovelowo as Pontius Pilot, Paul Walter Hauser as John the Baptist, Patricia Heaton as the host and John Rhys-Davies as the narrator. In addition, none other than The Young and the Restless, Courtney Hope (Sally Spectra) also is featured as Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Photo: FaithPodcastNetwork

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “The Christ comes from a creative team that includes writer and director Paul Cuschieri, co-director and producer Mark Ramsey and producer Jim Young.” The series drops during Holy Week, with the first episode debuting on March 30. A new episode will be released each day through April 2, scheduled accordingly so that the entire series will be available by Good Friday on April 3.

The official logline says The Christ will cover “the life, death and legacy of Jesus of Nazareth. Through betrayal, courage, suffering and hope, the series explores how one man’s story reshaped history — and redefined love, authority and sacrifice.”

Pelphrey who announced he has 12-years of sobriety back in 2025, shared why this project was of importance to him, “Sharing about sobriety and faith are so personal to me, and it means so much to me. The other thing you notice is when people are sharing things, you could say a word to a thousand people, and a thousand people hear a different version of that word. In all humility, to share something that matters to you, you first have to come to an understanding and acceptance that you’re surrendering how it’s going to be heard or what it means to anyone listening. You have no control over it. That’s been an amazing process to go through.”

So, what do you think of Tom Pelphrey playing the audio version of Jesus Christ and Courtney Hope playing Mary, Mother of Jesus? Excited to hear the story of Christ via this podcast series? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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Guiding Light

‘Guiding Light’s’ Kim Zimmer Reflects on Brilliant Scenes with Tom Pelphrey After Initially Telling Producers, ‘Hire Any of Them But the Last Guy’

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Throughout its 57-year run on daytime, Guiding Light introduced television audiences to many actor who would go on to have major careers in motion pictures, primetime television and the stage. One such is the incredible Tom Pelphrey (Task, Mank, Ozark, Outer Range, et al.), who from the minute he debuted on the CBS soap took soap viewers by storm for his raw, relatable and emotional turn as Reva (Kim Zimmer) and Prince Richard Winslow’s (Bradley Cole) son, Jonathan Randall.

In the complicated storyline, Jonathan was conceived and born while Reva was suffering from amnesia and believing herself to be Princess Catherine while living in San Cristobel. As Jonathan grew up his life was torn apart making him a vengeful, menacing young man, who under it all was deeply wounded and who felt abandoned and forgot about.

Kim Zimmer won four Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Reva Shayne, while Tom Pelphrey took home two Daytime Emmys for the Outstanding Younger Actor in a Daytime Drama Series for his performance. On-screen, together, they were a riveting pairing which included many a tense scene including when Jonathan choked out Reva.

Photo: JPI

During last week’s Guiding Light reunion livestream with Zimmer, Bradley Cole (ex-Richard and Jeffrey, GL) and Laura Wright (ex-Cassie, GL, now Carly, GH) on the You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, the three actors reminisced about their time together as romantic pairings: Reva/Richard, Cassie/Richard, Reva/Jeffrey etc, but also talked about many of their co-stars and their deeply personal feelings of what Guiding Light meant to all of them.

REVA AND JONATHAN WERE SOAP OPERA GOLD

Though the years, it’s been no secret that Zimmer, did not initially want Tom Pelphrey cast as her son, because as she admitted, in the audition process with her, she was scared of him based on the power of his performance in the scene.

Kim recalled, “I went in (to the producers) right after I auditioned like seven guys, and I said, ‘Hire any of them, but the last guy.’ And they all looked at me like I had six heads, because they had already decided they were going to cast him. And then when I said that, they were like, ‘we’re definitely going to cast him now! That’s the feeling they wanted. They knew he scared me.”

The beloved GL heroine said that once she began working in a scene with Pelphrey, all was A-OK! “It was almost immediate once we started really working together, and I could trust the story,” shared Kim. “It was such a bizarre story that I was being given, again (also referencing Reva’s Clone story as the other), that I was hesitant about that. But once we started really working together, there was no question that they had made the right decision.”

In fact, fans loved Reva and Jonathan so much, they would vote them top couple as Kim remembers, “And, you know, in the soap magazines, we got voted, ‘Best couple,’ and we weren’t a love couple. We were a mother and son. That was like the biggest compliment to me –  we’d get nominated as ‘Outstanding Couple.’

ONE OF THE FINEST ACTORS IN THE HISTORY OF GUIDING LIGHT

Kim’s real-life son, Jake Weary has also made quite the name for himself in TV and motion pictures and Pelphrey also bonded many years ago: “When my son was living in LA, he and Jake would hang out together. They had mutual friends and they got to know each other pretty well, which I love. Jake actually asked me recently if I had any favorite Guiding Light scenes that I could remember. And I said, ‘Anything with HB (Larry Gates), Billy Lewis (Jordan Clarke) and Tom Pelphrey.

During the livestream, Laura Wright, who worked in many scenes with Pelphrey, added, “In my opinion, Tom took the bar and he raised it. Not just in talent because he had that, but Tom inspired you. He made you want to do like that, and he wanted you to be as great. He just was all around a great guy to work with.”

In case you missed it,  you can check out the Guiding Light live reunion with Kim, Bradley and Laura, followed by some incredible scenes between Tom and Kim as Jonathan and Reva.

Then, let us know, do you think Reva and Jonathan as played by Kim Zimmer and Tom Pelphrey, were the most dynamic mother/son duo all-time on the soaps? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

 

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‘Guiding Light’ Reunion: Kim Zimmer, Bradley Cole and Laura Wright to Chat Live!

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In a very special livestream reunion; three of the former stars of the legendary Guiding Light, who’s on-screen lives were forever intertwined, will visit the Michael Fairman Channel on Friday, January 30 beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

Look for GL icon and four-time Daytime Emmy winner, Kim Zimmer (ex-Reva Shayne), Bradley Cole (ex-Prince Richard Winslow and Jeffrey O’Neill and ex-Warren Bauer, GH), and Daytime Emmy winner Laura Wright (ex-Cassie Layne, now Carly Spencer on GH) to reminisce about their time together and memories of the daytime drama that lasted an astounding 57 years on television and counting radio, 72 years.

Guiding Light fans will recall, Bradley’s first run as Richard and his royal wedding to Cassie, to returning as a Jeffrey O’Neill, and how it caused tension between sisters, Reva and Cassie, and much more.

Photo: JPI

As viewers know, Kim Zimmer played the iconic role of Reva Shayne from 1983–1990 and from 1995–2009. Bradley Cole portrayed Prince Richard Winslow from 1999- 2002, and after the character was killed-off, he returned as Jeffrey O’Neill, a lawyer-turned-special agent, who was with the series from 2003-2009. As the show went off the air for the last time in the September 18, 2009 finale, Jeffrey was presumed dead. Then, in 2010, Cole came to General Hospital to take on the short-term but important run of Warren Bauer, who was believed to have abused his son, Kiefer Bauer.

Laura Wright played Reva’s sister Cassie Layne in a stunning reveal in 1999, and stayed with the series until 2005, before moving to General Hospital later that year to take on the role of Carly Corinthos, now going by Carly Spencer and the rest for Wright is as they say, history.

Not only will the GL alums and stars chat about their time on the soap, but will bring you up-to-date on their lives now. First, Bradley has a new album out entitled Desert Dreams. The 12 track project pays a musical tribute to Cole’s upbringing in Los Angeles and the classic rock, pop, and south-of-the-border influences of the ’60s and ’70s that shaped his musical foundation. Desert Dreams blends a classic rock vibe with nostalgic country and a modern Americana sensibility, highlighting Cole’s clear storytelling and skillful melodic songwriting.

Photo: JPI

Meanwhile, Laura Wright continues to star on ABC’s General Hospital whereas Carly Spencer she is embroiled in a major storyline with Carly’s current love interest WSB Port Charles Bureau Chief, Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). After finding out he enlisted her daughter, Josslyn (Eden McCoy) to be a WSB spy, she believes the guy is bad news, or does she? Laura continues her project Sacred Circle where “women pause, breathe, and reconnect with ourselves — and with each other.”

Then, there is GL icon, Kim Zimmer. She will soon be seen in an upcoming production of  Driving Miss Daisy, in the role Daisy at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre in Fayetteville, NC, running from March 19 to April 4, 2026. Last year, Kim starred in the play The Trip to Bountiful at Theatre Raleigh. Back in 2024, Zimmer went public with her breast cancer diagnosis and that she had undergone treatment. She is also the proud mom to TV and film, actor Jake Weary.

If you cannot be with us in the live chat, but have a question or comment you would like posed to Kim, Bradley or Laura, make sure to drop it in the comment section below, and we just might ask it during the live broadcast.

Now below, also check out the Guiding Light profiler with clips from Bradley Cole’s run as Jeffrey O’Neil and how the character was involved with Reva and Cassie and more.

So, excited to see Kim, Bradley and Laura reminiscing about their time on Guiding Light and more? Let us know via the comment section!

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