:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/leanne-rimes-nashville-911-589-100625-82cce909b3474a4581026e47c8176227.jpg "After not 'picturing' LeAnn Rimes for villain role, 9-1-1: Nashville boss details her 'mind-blowi...")
&34;She's just got this kind of a fire in her,&34; adds Chris O'Donnell, who costars with the country music legend on the new ABC drama. After not 'picturing' L
"She's just got this kind of a fire in her," adds Chris O'Donnell, who costars with the country music legend on the new ABC drama.
After not 'picturing' LeAnn Rimes for villain role, 9-1-1: Nashville boss details her 'mind-blowing' audition
"She's just got this kind of a fire in her," adds Chris O'Donnell, who costars with the country music legend on the new ABC drama.
By Patrick Gomez
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Patrick Gomez is an Executive Editor at . Formerly at People magazine and The A.V. Club, the Critics Choice and Television Critics Association member has appeared on 'Today,' 'Extra!,' 'Access Hollywood,' 'E! News,' 'CNN,' and 'Nightline,' and can be seen frequently on 'Good Morning America.' Follow the Texas Native at @PatrickGomezLA wherever your media is social for all things 'For All Mankind' 'Top Chef,' and puppy related.
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October 8, 2025 11:00 a.m. ET
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LeAnn Rimes as '9-1-1: Nashville' character Dixie Bennings. Credit:
Disney/Jake Giles Netter
The antagonists on *9-1-1* shows are usually natural disasters, like a tornado — but on *9-1-1: Nashville, *that whirling dervish is in the form of LeAnn Rimes.
The Grammy winner made her debut as a cherubic teen, and most recently won hearts and a trophy as Sun on *The Masked Singer*. But now the country music legend stars on the new spinoff as Dixie Bennings — who, according to showrunner Rashad Raisani, is a major villain on the ABC series.
In juxtaposition to the wealthy Blythe Hart (Jessica Capshaw) and her fire captain husband Don (Chris O'Donnell), Dixie "represents the grittier side of Nashville," Raisani tells ** of Rimes' character.
In the preview trailer for the series, it's revealed that Dixie had a child with Don before his marriage to Blythe. After her son, Blue (Hunter McVey), is recruited into the firehouse, she encourages him to "start sinking your hooks" into the Hart family.
It's a juicy role, but not one the showrunner originally envisioned for the singer.
'9-1-1: Lone Star' boss reveals storylines we would've seen if not canceled 'too soon'
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'9-1-1' season 9 boss previews new captain, new series regulars, and crossover chances (exclusive)
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"I don't know if any of us were really picturing her for this character of Dixie," Raisani says, "and why, I don't know in retrospect. But her audition was one of the most mind-blowing auditions I've ever seen. And I don't think I'm the only person who would say that who saw it."
Raisani — who previously served as showrunner on *9-1-1: Lone Star*, which ended its five-season run earlier this year — gets chills just recalling the audition to EW.
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Blue (Hunter McVey) and Dixie (LeAnn Rimes) on '9-1-1: Nashville'.
Disney/Jake Giles Netter
"I hope one day it ends up on YouTube and people can watch it, because to see her come in.... We had seen a lot of auditions at that point, and we were talking to different people, but I don't think I've ever seen someone just come in and be the character in a way that even I wasn't picturing it. I was like, 'Okay, that's her.'"
"Leanne brings such a great dynamic to this character in this role," adds O'Donnell, whose character works with Dixie's son, an exotic dancer-turned-firefighter. "She's just got this kind of a fire in her, and she's going to be great. I think she's going to come off really, really fun."
Raisani has promised *9-1-1: Nashville* will be "soapier" than *9-1-1* or *Lone Star*, but that doesn't mean there won't be a roundedness to Rimes' Dixie.
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"LeAnn is our series villain, but she plays her with such grace and dignity," the showrunner shares. "Even when she's a little trashy, she plays her with so much just poise and she has a real code to her."
*9-1-1: Nashville* premieres Thursday, Oct. 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, on ABC.
Source: "AOL TV"
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