Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong Recalls Childhood Ties to Hayden Panettiere

Crow-Armstrong’s mother, actress Ashley Crow, starred alongside Panettiere in the NBC drama, creating a link between the future baseball star and the screen icon. In a 2022 interview with NBC Chicago, Crow-Armstrong admitted that Panettiere was his primary childhood celebrity crush. Despite being immersed in a Hollywood environment, he noted that his parents made a concerted effort to shield him from the entertainment industry, ensuring his youth remained largely disconnected from the spotlight.

These memories have resurfaced following the sudden death of Panettiere at age 36. Authorities found the actress in cardiac arrest at a South Carolina residence on August 16. While investigations into the cause of death remain ongoing, the passing has prompted an outpouring of tributes from former co-stars, including Solange Knowles, who honored their shared history as young actresses navigating the industry. Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, expressed her hope that her daughter has finally found peace alongside her brother, Jansen Panettiere, who died in 2023.