Why isn't Sierra McClain back for 911: Lone Star Season 5?

911: Lone Star Season 5 is now officially the last. That final season was hinted at months ago when the news that one OG cast member wouldn’t return broke. Sierra McClain won’t be back, and here’s a look at why.

McClain has played Grace Ryder for four seasons of the series. Let me say that Grace is, by far, the best character on the whole series. She is kind and compassionate, but she is also a bada** as a 911 dispatcher. She will help a caller as much as possible, even if it means getting her Dom on.

The show won’t be the same without Grace. Sure, we’ll see her stepson Wyatt take over as a dispatcher, but we’re not sure how Grace is going to be written out of the show. I guess this depends on why McClain is leaving 911: Lone Star at all.

911: Lone Star contract negotiations led to Sierra McClain’s exit

Before the start of Season 4, the cast of the series pushed for salary increases. The network refused to negotiate, and the show went on as normal. It looks like another attempt at salary increases was made during the year off due to the strike action in summer 2023.

This time, the network offered some extra money but in the form of bonuses. It was a “take it or leave it” situation, according to Deadline, leading to McClain opting for the latter.

How will Grace be written out of 911: Lone Star?

There are a lot of questions about what this means for Grace and Judd, as Jim Parrick isn’t leaving the series. While Judd will retire from the 126, he will remain part of the series. It is possible that Grace leaves Judd due to issues with Wyatt, but that seems unlikely with the way that Grace and Judd left things at the end of Season 4.

Grace’s father had some serious health problems during the fourth season. This opens the door for Grace to go and stay with him as he needs her more than Judd does right now. This storyline makes a lot of sense since 911: Lone Star Season 5 is going to be the last. There won’t be a need to explain where Grace is in the following seasons.

As long as Grace isn’t killed off off-screen or she doesn’t leave Judd, I can just about accept it.

911: Lone Star Season 5 premieres on Monday, Sept. 23 at 8/7c on FOX.