Kristin Chenoweth posts a teary tribute to Naya Rivera with whom she worked on Glee

Kristin Chenoweth wasn’t able to stop herself from crying while remembering her former costar Naya Rivera on Monday, after confirmation came in that Rivera had tragically died last week in an apparent boating accident.

Chenoweth, 51, guest starred over the years on Rivera’s seminal show Glee, between 2009 and 2014.

And on Monday night, Kristin broke down in tears reflecting on that time, in an emotional video testimonial posted to her Instagram Stories.

‘A long time ago, I was invited to be a guest star on a show called Glee, and I had the honor of meeting all my babies, those kids who still make me proud,’ Kristin said. ‘And I want them to know I still love them, and I’m proud of them.  

‘And with Naya gone, I know how that hurts them,’ she continued tearfully. ‘She was such a sweet, sweet child, and to see her singing with her baby really gets me.’

Chenoweth went on to reflect on her ‘longest and oldest friend’ John Sawyer’s passing on Mother’s Day this year.

‘I thought maybe John was up in heaven, with her, preparing the way,’ Kristin said.

‘I just want to tell y’all not to lose hope, it’s gonna be ok,’ she added. ‘And if you need to have a big cry like I’m doing right now, then do it. Do it.’

Earlier on Monday, Kristin took to her IG feed and Twitter to remember the fallen actress, with an arresting shot of Naya holding her young son Josey.

‘Thank you for what you gave the world. I love you,’ Chenoweth captioned the snap. 

On Monday morning, authorities in Ventura County, California confirmed that they had retrieved the body of Rivera, who went missing while out on a pontoon boat on Lake Piru with her 4-year-old son the week before.

Rivera was 33 years of age at the time of her passing.

And as of Tuesday afternoon, it was reported that the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Naya’s death as an accidental drowning.

The sheriff added that the department’s major crimes bureau investigated the case, and determined that there was no indication of foul play or suicide.