Dixie’s Back! Cady McClain Returning To ‘All My Children’

Cady McClain returning to All My Children for a short story arc. Could Dixie be alive?

Welcome back Dixie! ABC Soaps In Depth reports popular veteran Cady McClain (Dixie, AMC; ex-Rosanna, ATWT) is returning to All My Children. Yesterday during the the Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour, ABC Daytime President Brian Frons told SID, “We just made a deal for Cady to come back for a short run and do a story with Tad.”

SID promises to have more details on McClain’s return when the information is available.

McClain has portrayed Dixie Cooney-Martin off an on since 1988. After exiting the soap in 2002, she joined the cast of As The World Turns, taking over the role of Rosanna Cabot (a role in which she earned her second Daytime Emmy Award). McClain returned to AMC in 2005 playing a much darker, jaded Dixie. Then-head writer Megan McTavish killed off the beloved character during their “Satin Slayer” storyline in 2007. The story saw Dixie murdered after eating poisoned banana pancakes.

The actress returned to her old stomping grounds at World Turns, reprising the role of Rosanna. She returned to AMC in 2008 for a short storyline that saw ghost Dixie help ex-husband Tad reunite with their daughter Kate. She returned (again) to ATWT in 2009, only to depart months later.

“My agreement for ATWT was only for six months and I am afraid that time is almost up,” McClain posted on her official web site in October. “There is a chance I will be asked back next year, which would be nice, but for right now, I will air until Christmas or so.” This of course came two months prior to As The World Turns’ cancellation.

As an admitted fan of McClain, I’m glad to see her return, even if it’s for a short time. AMC made a grave mistake when they killed Dixie in 2007. Though the character wasn’t the same Dixie we had come to know and love, she was still Dixie. The talented singer, songwriter, artist and poet brings a lot to any show she’s on, and All My Children could really use someone of her caliber and popularity to help the soap get back on track.

The big question on fans minds is whether or not Dixie is alive. Under head writer Charles Pratt, it was revealed that Dixie might not have been murdered by the Satin Slayer. While the story hasn’t been mentioned in recent months, there’s the possibility the interim writing regime (or new head writer) will follow through the storyline.

What would you like to see happen? Do you want Cady back full time? What storylines would you want to see if she did return permanently? Send your comments to mailbag@tvsourcemagazine.com for publishing.