Big news for 9-1-1 fans — and a little bit of drama to go with it. Rob Lowe, beloved star of 9-1-1: Lone Star, is opening up about the franchise’s newest spin-off, 9-1-1: Nashville. And while he’s cheering it on, he’s also dropping a few candid thoughts that might surprise you.
Lowe first stepped into the Ryan Murphy TV universe back in 2020, leading Lone Star as firefighter Owen Strand in Austin, Texas. The show quickly built a loyal following, with a cast that included Gina Torres, Liv Tyler, Ronen Rubinstein, and Brian Michael Smith. But despite its popularity, Lone Star was canceled in late 2024 due to financial constraints, airing its final episode in February 2025. Now, as the franchise gears up for its next chapter in Nashville, Lowe is watching from the sidelines — but with a front-row view thanks to family connections.
Speaking to Variety, Lowe revealed that his brother, Chad Lowe, is an executive producer and director on 9-1-1: Nashville. "I’m really excited about it," Rob said. "I’ve been getting live updates from Chad, and it’s basically all my friends on the show." That star-studded cast includes Chris O’Donnell, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, LeAnn Rimes, Jessica Capshaw, Michael Provost, Kane Brown, and Tim Matheson.
Rob couldn’t resist name-dropping a few personal connections: "I play golf with Chris O’Donnell. Kimberly Williams-Paisley — I’ve worked with her twice — she’s just the most wonderful person. And I keep hearing these wild stories from set, like people hanging from bridges. I’m like, ‘Yep, that’s exactly what you signed up for!’" But here’s the part that made him laugh: "Honestly, the number one thing I’ve been thinking about is how glad I am that I don’t have to wear a firefighter uniform in the Nashville summer. That’s brutal."
Fans wondering if Owen Strand might make a cameo in Nashville got a mixed answer. Lowe admitted, "I love Owen Strand, and it means a lot to me that people miss him. I never rule anything out, but right now, I don’t think there are any plans for him to show up."
9-1-1: Nashville premieres October 9 on ABC, and showrunner Rashad Raisani is already teasing some jaw-dropping emergencies. In an interview with TVLine, he described scenes like an Airstream trailer ending up on top of a bridge, and a tourist on a Segway getting impaled on a water tower. "We’re bringing a bunch of crazy emergencies where people end up in places they absolutely shouldn’t be," he said. While the show will keep the core DNA of 9-1-1, Raisani hinted it will also borrow from prestige dramas like Succession and Dynasty. "The series kicks off with a shocking revelation that shakes a character’s entire world. And yes, we’re using tornadoes — both literally and metaphorically — to represent the chaos in their lives."
The show will also explore complex relationships, including one between Jessica Capshaw’s character, a wealthy woman whose ranch burned down, and Chris O’Donnell’s character, Don Sharpe, a blue-collar firefighter. "I’m sure I wasn’t her parents’ first choice," O’Donnell joked, noting that Don is caught between his working-class roots and his connection to a high-profile Nashville family.
But here’s the question for fans: Should Rob Lowe’s Owen Strand make the leap from Austin to Nashville for at least a guest appearance? Or is it better to let the new cast carve out their own space without the shadow of past favorites? Drop your thoughts — and your hottest takes — in the comments.
