Hayden Panettiere Says Living In Nashville 'Gives Me a Sense of Normalcy'
Hayden Panettiere seems to prefer to be far away from the buzz of New York City.
"I like being in a place where people appreciate the little things and don't need a lot of stuff to be happy," Panettiere tells Southern Living for its March 2014 issue.
"At my core, this is the kind of person I am and want to be," Panettiere explained. "Living in Nashville gives me a sense of normalcy that I wasn't sure I was ever going to get back in my life. When I first got here, all my defenses were still up, and I was waiting for that world to suddenly creep back in. When it didn't, I realized that I can live a normal life here with people who don't judge you based on what you do or who you are in the public eye."
After landing the role of Juliette Barnes on ABC's Nashville, Panettiere, a New York native, re-located to Tennessee. Upon her arrival to Tennessee, Panettiere chose to move into a local hotel with her fiancé Wladimir Klitschko. She and Klitschko took the plunge and, in Dec. 2013, purchased a home.
In addition to its southern charm, Panettiere said she also appreciates Nashville's casual style.
"It's a lot more laid-back, which suits me better," she said. "In L.A. and New York you go out to lunch and everyone is wearing high heels. In Nashville if I see someone wearing heels, I get the sense they might not be from around here."
Another thing Panetierre has come to love is Nashville's southern sayings, including "Bless her heart."
"There is so much context there," Panettiere said. "So much more is said with those three words."
Panettiere's appearance on Southern Living marks the first celebrity cover in the magazine's 48-year history.