How to Get Cast on ‘9-1-1: Nashville’

Murphy’s projects are often shrouded in secrecy, Souliere told us. “Whenever we put out a casting notice, we change the character’s name. There’s never any plot, the sides are fake, and the names are changed, so if it does get out, people have no idea what anything means,” he said. “Also, every actor who auditions has to sign an NDA, and they can’t say that they went in for this show or disclose any information about the audition or role they’re reading for.”   

For established actors like O’Donnell, Capshaw, and Williams-Paisley, however, auditions weren’t needed. Instead, the production team approached them. As Capshaw told Gio magazine, it’s “the Ryan Murphy of it all” that drew her in. “That, as well as it not being very often that you get to know that something’s been tested and liked. Normally you are starting from scratch, and you hope it works. But with it being a franchise and knowing how passionate people were about the original “9-1-1” and then “Lonestar,” it was kind of comforting to join something where the water is warm, that people are interested in this. We had the opportunity to create something new, but in a world that we know seems to work.”   

Meanwhile, Rimes’ audition stunned the team. "I don't know if any of us were really picturing her for this character of Dixie, and why, I don’t know in retrospect. But her audition was one of the most mind-blowing auditions I’ve ever seen,” showrunner Rashad Raisani told Entertainment Weekly. “And I don’t think I’m the only person who would say that who saw it."   

“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,” he added. “I was like, ‘OK, that’s her.’ ”

McVey, on the other hand, landed the gig after auditioning for an entirely different Murphy series. “Hunter, this is literally his first gig,” O’Donnell told Decider. “I mean, he sent in a tape for ‘Love Story,’ the JFK [Jr.] show. He just said, ‘I’ve never acted, but people have told me I look a little bit like JFK [Jr.],’ so he sent a tape into [Murphy’s] office. And that’s ultimately how they found him, because they were having trouble finding somebody for that role. And the casting director said, ‘What about that kid?’ They had remembered him, and next thing you know, he’s making a TV show.” 

Though there are no open casting calls for regular or recurring roles right now, those who want to get involved should keep an eye on Jenny Alison Casting’s Facebook page and Gage Talent’s website, as both focus on casting background talent in the Nashville area. In fact, JAC previously put out a call for a stand-in role on “9-1-1: Nashville” in 2025 via Backstage. As you await new opportunities, we recommend checking out our guide on how to get cast in a Ryan Murphy production and these guides on how to succeed in your procedural audition:

As Capshaw told Gio, the business has become saturated, but that’s precisely why you must focus on who you are and what you bring to the table. “There are now more voices in the room, and it’s hard to rise above them. So I think that ultimately my old-school analog advice would be to focus on your own race,” she noted. “Do what turns you on, focus on your work, and then see where that takes you. Make big choices, be bold, be you, and see what happens.”

Even so, Kilgore told us, nerves can get the best of anyone. “It’s all about how you treat yourself and how you speak to yourself. It’s so important to treat yourself with care and speak to yourself lovingly,” she said. “Just do the work; that’s all you can do. I put my head down and do the work, and I work hard and do my very best. There’s nothing else that can be said, because I did everything that I needed to do,” she told us. “You can, too. A lot of actors are insecure and just want to do a good job. It’s normal; it’s all love; you got this. It’s very easy to get sucked into the highlight reel of Instagram or press releases; it’s not important. It’s about you, your heart, and what you bring to the table. I have to remind myself of it sometimes.”  

Kilgore added that she still gets butterflies. “The first thing is: You start doing so many auditions [that] you’ll get used to it, and you’ll see familiar faces, and they just want to book the role. Remember: That can be you. The most important things you can do are show up and be prepared. Show them what you’ll do with the role when you’re given the opportunity, and when you do that, you’ll be less nervous—I promise.”   

Souliere echoed the sentiment, noting that preparation is essential. “I can tell who’s done the work and who hasn’t. When they haven’t, it’s really frustrating. When someone’s not nervous, is being themselves, and is prepared, it’s going to be a great experience. Either you’re going to be right for that role, or we’re going to remember you for something down the line,” he told us.