Claim: Hayden Panetierre played the lead role, Juliette Barnes, on Nashville.

Juliette Jolene Barnes is a fictional character and one of the two leads in the ABC/CMT musical drama series Nashville . Juliette is portrayed by actress Hayden Panettiere since the pilot episode , which aired on October 10 , 2012 . Juliette was a teenage country sensation and is now making more mature music . She tries to take the throne , as Queen of Country music , from rival Rayna Jaymes . Panettiere has received critical acclaim for her performance as Juliette and she has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress -- Television Series Drama in 2013 and 2014 , a Satellite Award for Best Actress -- Television Series Drama in 2012 and a Teen Choice Award for Television Actress : Drama in 2013 and 2015 .