‘9-1-1: Nashville’ Star LeAnn Rimes Talks Don-Dixie-Blythe Backstory, Singing as Her 20-Year-Younger Self for Flashback Episode

The intricate web linking firefighter Don Hart, his former partner country singer Dixie Bennings, and his wife, police officer Blythe Hart, was fully unpacked in ABC's "9-1-1: Nashville" episode "Don Begins." Conceived by showrunner Rashad Raisani to delve into these central relationships, the narrative shifted between timelines. It opened with Don's foundational childhood tragedy: the loss of his parents and baby sister in a deliberately set fire. Following this, a young Don found solace with neighbor Dixie and her grandmother before being placed into foster care, establishing the deep, original connection between the two.

Flashbacks depicted a young adult Don, portrayed by Ben Winchell, reigniting his bond with Dixie (Noa Bess Solomon) in a jail cell, which blossomed into an intense romance. They lived together, with Don financing Dixie's musical aspirations as she championed his pursuit of firefighting. Mounting strains eventually caused a split, coinciding with Dixie leaving to tour as a backup dancer for country superstar Faith Hill—a pivotal career opportunity that pulled her from Nashville. During his subsequent loneliness, Don met and fell for Blythe (Hunter King). Her commitment was so unwavering that she persuaded the Nashville Police Department to reinvestigate his family's long-unsolved case, leading to an arrest. A concluding flashback revealed the conception of their son, Blue, during a later, emotionally charged reunion.

For series star LeAnn Rimes, this backstory was crucial for adding dimension. The multi-platinum artist, whose 1997 breakout hit "How Do I Live" remains one of the best-selling country singles in history, noted that witnessing a younger, more optimistic Dixie alters the audience's understanding. "It gives you a different point of view on these characters from here on out," Rimes told Variety. She added that portraying Dixie before life hardened her into a more manipulative figure was a rewarding challenge. Rimes believes this history will leave the audience torn, as it underscores the genuine, lasting magnetism between Don and Dixie that persists despite their rocky past.

Rimes' role extended past acting. Upon discovering the script required a career-launching song for Dixie, she proposed writing it. Teaming with songwriter Darrell Brown, she created "Wild Things Run," a track designed to embody the spirit of two "wild hearts" colliding. In a meticulous post-production step, Rimes later re-sang the vocals to match Solomon's on-screen performance, deliberately adjusting her seasoned voice to sound decades younger—a process that evoked her experience dubbing vocals for actress Piper Perabo in the 2000 film "Coyote Ugly." This detailed audio work lends authenticity to the character's origins.

The present-day storyline concluded with Don achieving a degree of peace by delivering a victim impact statement that offered forgiveness, yet not forgetfulness, to his family's killer. Blythe recognized that Dixie, through their shared memory of the fire, helped him reach this emotional release. As television critic Alan Sepinwall has observed, using shared trauma to forge an indelible connection is a classic, yet potent, engine for ongoing drama in serialized storytelling. However, as they separated, Dixie assured Blythe that fate would inevitably reunite her with Don. Rimes clarified this is Dixie's sincere conviction, not just spite. "She truly believes, no matter what, they're going to be connected in some way," Rimes explained, pointing to a profound history and pull that Dixie feels Blythe can never fully comprehend—a deliberate space Dixie maintains, ensuring future narrative friction.