'Lone Star' Explains Grace's Absence After Sierra McClain Leaves the Show (Exclusive Preview)

As 9-1-1: Lone Star As co-showrunner Rashad Raisani puts it, you wouldn't be reading about Fox's first responder drama if it weren't for Sierra McClain, who starred in four seasons of the series as 911 call center dispatcher Grace.

“If it weren't for her, we wouldn't be talking to each other now,” Raisani said Weekly entertainment last week in the preview of the upcoming fifth and final season of Lonely Star“She's a central element of the show. She's the voice on the phone in the title, you know what I mean?”

Still, McClain decided to abruptly leave the show after last year's fourth season — and fans were left wondering how her absence would be remedied, given that Grace's husband Judd (Jim Parrack) and daughter Charlie (Kobe Melton and Kodi Melton) remain on the show. Now, an EW-exclusive preview clip gives us some clues ahead of Monday's fifth season premiere.

In the clip above, Judd surprises his son Wyatt (Jackson Pace) with a new home. We also learn that Wyatt and Leigh Ann (Jessi Case) have had a son, Liam. Judd stands next to Wyatt's mother Marlene (Robyn Lively) and asks her to take a family photo. “Guys, let me take a photo of this for Grace. She'd kill me if I didn't,” he says. “Gracie told me she was sorry she couldn't be here.”

“Well, I'd say she has much more important things to do right now,” Leigh Ann replies. “Mom… Mommy is doing God's work,” Judd agrees.

While it's not entirely clear yet, it's safe to assume that Grace, who has always been very open about her faith, is doing some sort of missionary work – a development that intentionally leaves the door open should McClain ever decide to return to the series. (Though filming for season 5 has wrapped and Fox has announced that the series will not return for a sixth season unless it's rescued by another network or streamer.)

In our interview with Raisani (which we conducted before the series was canceled), the co-showrunner and executive producer revealed that he would welcome McClain back when she was ready. “I told her, 'Whenever I'm here, there will always be a place for you,'” he said. “I would love it, I would beg her. But [her departure] forced us to do some unexpected things that led to some beautiful storylines.”

One of these storylines also solves another problem caused by Grace's absence: Wyatt not only has a new home, but also a new job: he takes on the role of the series' central emergency dispatcher.

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“We wanted to show that no matter your physical condition, you have so much to offer,” Raisani explained. “I'm proud that we can tell this story for many people who may be struggling but see that there are always opportunities to do something great. [McClain’s departure,] I think it was ultimately a happy coincidence that allowed us to take this storyline even further.”

9-1-1: Lone Star Season 5 premieres September 23 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.