ABC's '9-1-1' Hits New Viewership Highs

The hit drama series and its Nashville spin-off are breaking records for the network.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 6:54pm

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An abstract, high-contrast close-up photograph of a shattered, glittering glass surface, conceptually representing the dramatic, glamorous nature of the 9-1-1 TV series.The 9-1-1 franchise continues to captivate audiences with its high-stakes emergencies and over-the-top production values.Today in Nashville

ABC's long-running drama series 9-1-1 just had one of its biggest weeks ever, with Season 9 hitting a new high of 4.8 million live and same-day viewers during its most recent episode. The show's new Nashville spin-off, 9-1-1: Nashville, also broke its own viewership record for Season 1, coming in just under the flagship series with 4.02 million viewers on the same night.

Why it matters

The impressive viewership numbers for both 9-1-1 and its Nashville spin-off demonstrate the continued popularity of the franchise, which has become one of ABC's most successful police procedural series. The network has already renewed both shows, ensuring the 9-1-1 universe will continue to entertain audiences for the foreseeable future.

The details

9-1-1, which stars Angela Bassett as Athena Grant and was co-created by Ryan Murphy, has been a hit for ABC since its debut in 2018. The show has tackled a wide range of emergencies, from house fires to meteor strikes. The network's new spin-off, 9-1-1: Nashville, which debuts new episodes immediately after 9-1-1 on Thursdays, has also found success, despite some initial fan skepticism following the cancellation of the franchise's first spin-off, 9-1-1: Lone Star.

  • On March 26, 2026, 9-1-1 hit a new viewership high of 4.8 million live and same-day viewers.
  • Also on March 26, 2026, 9-1-1: Nashville broke its own viewership record for Season 1 with 4.02 million viewers.

The players

Angela Bassett

Starring as Athena Grant in the 9-1-1 series.

Ryan Murphy

Co-creator of the 9-1-1 series.

Oliver Stark

Plays the character of Buck, a fan-favorite firefighter on 9-1-1.

Hunter McVey

Plays the character of Blue on 9-1-1: Nashville.

LeAnn Rhimes

Plays the character of Dixie on 9-1-1: Nashville.

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What they’re saying

“Somebody call 9-1-1, cause the hit ABC series and its Nashville spin-off are burning up the network's viewership records.”

— Macklen Makhloghi, Author

What’s next

The next episodes of both 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Nashville will debut on ABC tonight, as both shows near the finales of their ninth and first seasons, respectively.

The takeaway

The impressive viewership numbers for both 9-1-1 and its Nashville spin-off demonstrate the continued popularity of the franchise, which has become one of ABC's most successful police procedural series. The network's decision to renew both shows ensures the 9-1-1 universe will continue to entertain audiences for the foreseeable future.