The countdown for 9-1-1: Nashville continues as the ABC spin-off released photos of the main cast. A spin-off of the OG 9-1-1 series, which is entering its 9th season this fall, it sees focus shift to first responders in Nashville, Tennessee.
Created by Ryan Murphy, it’s described as “a high-octane procedural about heroic first responders, as well as their family saga of power and glamour set in one of America’s most diverse and dynamic cities.”
That last part of the description, about being “one of America’s most diverse” cities, is of particular interest. For weeks fans have been concerned about the cast not being diverse. And it directly contradicts the synopsis above while also looking kind of embarrassing if you consider how diverse the OG 9-1-1 is and how according to Data USA, 25.2% of the population in Nashville was Black or African-American in 2023. That’s more than New York City.
With these new cast photos we do get to know a little bit more about the cast. But the fact remains that its not looking as diverse as they promised with only two people of color; Juani Feliz is Dominican-American and Hailey Kilgore is African-American. There’s also the character descriptions of the women characters in particular that feel cookie-cutter and don’t inspire hope for what’s to come.
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1. Chris O’Donnell as Capt. Don Sharpe
Best known for his work on NCIS: LA, Chris O’Donnell is continuing his work on procedurals as Capt. Don Sharpe. His character is described as “a rugged fire captain and rodeo rider who runs Nashville’s busiest firehouse.” He’ll also be working alongside his son at the firehouse. And he’s “a devoted husband and family man, but he has his secrets.”
2. Leann Rimes as Dixie Bennings
Iconic singer Leann Rimes is joining the cast of 9-1-1: Nashville as Dixie Bennings. She’s described as the mother of Blue, played by Hunter McVey. And… that’s it. Hopefully, we’ll learn more about her besides that she’s a mother.
3. Juani Feliz as Roxie Alba
Dominican-American actress Juani Feliz is best known for her work on Harlem, Fleishman Is in Trouble, and Civil War. She’ll be playing Roxie Alba, a firefighter who is a former trauma surgeon and an adrenaline junkie. And she’s the sole Latina main character on the cast.
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4. Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Cammie Raleigh
Kimberly Williams-Paisley has multiple connections to Nashville before joining this show. She starred in the CMT series Nashville, which also starred Connie Britton. Britton played Abby Clark in the OG 9-1-1 series. Williams-Paisley has also starred in multiple Hollywood movies based in the city for Paramount and Hallmark. And she’ll be playing 9-1-1 dispatcher Cammier Raleigh.
5. Hunter McVey as Blue Bennings
Hunter McVey is new to the acting business with only this show under his acting credits. He’ll be playing Blue Bennings, a firefighter and former stripper. And his mom is Dixie, played by Leann Rimes.
6. Jessica Capshaw as Blythe Hart
Jessica Capshaw is known within the medical procedural world for her longtime role as Dr. Arizona Robbins in Grey’s Anatomy. And she’ll be joining this world as Blythe Sharpe. She’s the wife of Chris O’Donnell’s Capt. Sharpe and the mother of modern-day cowboy and firefighter Ryan, played by Michael Provost. Like Rimes character, we hope to know more about her besides being a mother.
7. Michael Provost as Ryan Hart
Michael Provost is known for his roles in The Sex Lives of College Girls and Insatiable. And he’ll be playing Ryan, a modern-day cowboy and firefighter alongside his father Capt. Sharpe aka Chris O’Donnell. And his mother Blythe Sharpe is played by Jessica Capshaw.
8. Hailey Kilgore as Taylor Thompson
Hailey Kilgore is probably our favorite of this cast list for 9-1-1: Nashville because of how talented she is. She’s a Tony Award nominated actress for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at only 19 for Once on This Island. From then she jumped into film and TV with roles in Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories anthology series and four seasons of the crime drama Raising Kanan. Then this year she starred as Eurydice in Broadway’s Hadestown.
Now Kilgore is heading back to TV as Taylor Thompson, a firefighter who is also a singer. And from what we’re seeing here, she’s the only Black lead actress on the show.
9-1-1: Nashville premieres on October 9 at 9 p.m. ET.
Yes I’m excited for 911 Nashville