911 is not playing around. The franchise may have recently lost its Lone Star spinoff, but it is putting all its resources and energy into making sure the upcoming Nashville series is a smash. And it has us very excited. The franchise just added a country music star and a Nashville TV star to its cast, taking full advantage of its new and colorful setting.
LeAnn Rimes is the country music star tapped to play a crucial role in 911: Nashville. The details of her character have not yet been revealed, as production company 20th Television has declined to comment. Still, Variety confirmed the casting, giving Rimes her biggest role in a TV show arguably ever.
LeAnn Rimes has been cast in a mysterious role
Rimes has made one-off appearances on shows like Drop Dead Diva and Anger Management, but the only time she was an actual lead was in the 2014 reality series LeAnn & Eddie. Reality TV and singing shows has served as the go-to for the country star in recent years, as evidenced by appearances on both the Australian and UK versions of The Voice, so we are eager to see what she brings to the table in a dramatic capacity.
The decision to cast Rimes makes sense, given the desire to incorporate the Nashville music scene into the upcoming 911 spinoff. Tim Minear, the franchise's co-creator, told TV Line that country music will "absolutely" factor into the series, given Nashville's reputation as "Music City." LeAnne Rimes has sold over 48 million albums worldwide, so she easily qualifies as a worthwhile addition in this regard.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley has also joined 911
Rimes will be joined in the 911: Nashville cast by Kimberly Williams-Paisley, another actress with notable music ties. Williams-Paisley is the wife of country star Brad Paisley, and previously starred in the series Nashville. The series premiered on ABC before moving to CMT (Country Music Television), and like its title suggests, dealt with the various complications that arise in the country music scene.
Williams-Paisley played the role of Peggy Kenter on Nashville, who rises up the ranks to become the "First Lady of Nashville" over the course of her 22 episodes. The actress' other notable small screen credits include George Lopez, Two and a Half Men and The Flash.
Rimes and Williams-Paisley are joining a 911: Nashville cast that already has television veterans like Chris O'Donnell and Jessica Capshaw in the mix. O'Donnell is perhaps best known for his tenure on another procedural franchise, NCIS: Los Angeles, while Capshaw, the stepdaughter of directing icon Steven Spielberg, spent a decade on Grey's Anatomy.
We can't wait to see who else joins 911: Nashville before the ABC spinoff premieres in late 2025.