Brian Hickerson shared hopes to marry ‘good buddy’ Hayden Panettiere months before her death

Brian Hickerson shared his “hope” to wed Hayden Panettiere months before the late actress’ death.

When asked during a May interview with TMZ whether he sees himself “one day marrying” the “Nashville” alum, Hickerson replied, “Yeah, of course. I hope so. I hope so.”

However, he clarified Panettiere “probably didn’t think the same way.”

Hickerson, who had been linked to the “Heroes” alum on and off since 2018 and was with her when she died Sunday, also said he missed her “every day” — but they remained “good friends” and “good buddies.”

He noted, “Our relationship now is a mutual respect thing. She’ll always hold a special place in my heart and I hope the same for her.”

Hickerson dubbed the Golden Globe nominee the “sweetest thing in the world,” gushing, “It’s not about who you spend Saturday night with, it’s who you spend Sunday with and Hayden Panettiere is a Sunday girl.”

As for getting “back together,” Hickerson denied wanting this and said, “Hayden is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met in my life and I’d be an idiot not to walk away from her and let her flourish in her career.”

He continued, “We probably wouldn’t be good together. I’d like to see what she could do the next 30 years in her career.”

At the time, Panettiere was promoting her “This Is Me: A Reckoning” memoir, which detailed abusive incidents with Hickerson.

He called the abuse “terrible” in the TMZ sitdown, saying, “Never in my life did I ever get taught what domestic violence was, right? Maybe if I did at an early age, maybe I wouldn’t have done what I did. We don’t know. It’s one of those things you think about.”

Hickerson was charged with two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend in 2020 regarding incidents with Panettiere.

At the time, Panettiere wrote, “I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me in the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve. I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again.”

He pleaded no-contest in 2021 and was sentenced to 45 days in jail, four years of formal probation, 52 domestic violence classes, $500 in restitution and a five-year protective order.

By the following year, he and Panettiere had reconnected as friends, with her telling People, “I am open to people who are willing to get help and make amends. He’s gone to treatment and done his time. And I’m trying to live in a place of forgiveness.”

They were last photographed together at an airport in March.

On Thursday, Hickerson’s request to have his felony charges expunged and reduced to misdemeanors was denied by a Los Angeles judge.

Two days later, he and Panettiere flew from California to South Carolina, where the former soap star died of an apparent overdose Sunday.

Brian and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were present at the time of Panettiere’s passing, Page Six confirmed Tuesday.

Zach referred to the former child star as his sibling’s girlfriend, according to the police report.

A source told Page Six Monday that Panettiere kept some of her friends “in the dark” about her reconciliation with Brian, noting, “If you’ve gone through some dark times with people, and spoken about it, then there can be shame if you get back together with that same person.”

Panettiere’s cause of death is not yet known at this time. She was 36.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.

If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).