Inside the 9-1-1 Tribute That United Nashville for Isabelle Tate, 23
ABC’s 9-1-1: Nashville halts the action in Episode 4 for a poignant salute to Isabelle Tate, 23, who died earlier this month—an emotional nod to her brief but unforgettable pilot turn that resonated with fans.
ABC's new 9-1-1 spinoff took a minute to do something simple and meaningful: it closed this week's episode with a dedication to a young actor who made a quick but memorable impression in the pilot and passed away far too soon.
How 9-1-1: Nashville honored Isabelle Tate
Episode 4, 'Bad Case of the Blues,' ends on an 'In Loving Memory' card for Isabelle Tate. If you watched the pilot, you probably remember her as Julie. It was a small scene, but it stuck: Julie is trying to watch Blue Bennings (played by Hunter McVey), a stripper working the stage, and asks another woman at the bar to let her see. The woman refuses and mocks her. Blue clocks what's happening, steps off the stage, and dances for Julie anyway, even though it breaks the rules. It's a sweet beat that told you a lot about who Blue is and gave Julie a moment of joy.
Who Isabelle Tate was
Tate was 23. Her agency, the McCray Agency, said she died peacefully on October 19 following a battle with a rare form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. It's a progressive neuromuscular disorder that can affect multiple systems in the body and gradually weakens muscles, leading to all kinds of complications.
'Full of fire, a fighter, never once making excuses for the fact that she might have a disability relative to others.'
They also shared that she loved music, spending hours writing and recording songs with friends and even putting some out into the world. That tracks with the impression she left on screen: even in a brief role, there was a spark.
Why the tribute lands
For a brand-new series, circling back to honor a guest actor from the pilot is a thoughtful choice, and people who clocked Tate's cameo noticed. It reads like the show acknowledging the person behind the moment, not just the character. It is, simply, a heartfelt goodbye.
- Episode: 9-1-1: Nashville Episode 4, 'Bad Case of the Blues'
- Tribute: 'In Loving Memory' title card for Isabelle Tate at the end
- Role: Julie in the pilot
- Standout scene: Blue Bennings (Hunter McVey) breaks club rules to dance for Julie after another patron mocks her
- Age and date of passing: 23; October 19
- Cause: a rare form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a progressive neuromuscular disorder affecting multiple systems and causing gradual muscle weakness
- Confirmation: The McCray Agency said she passed peacefully
- Beyond acting: She wrote, recorded, and released music with friends