Loretta is a mother of four when she receives a guitar from Mooney, and learns to play because Mooney tells her he likes the way she sings. She ends up reluctantly playing in a local honky tonk. Then, Mooney tells her if she really wants a career, she needs to make a record, which they do. Along with a homemade 8x10 of Loretta, Mooney sends the record to country stations all over the U.S. After Loretta's father passes away, she and Mooney decide to really persue her new career and visit country stations while her mom watches the kids.

In Nashville, Loretta meets Patsy Cline, played by Beverly D'Angelo, who takes her under her wing and takes her on tour with her. The story continues with Patsy's tragic death, and then on to problems for Loretta with Mooney's philandering ways. Spacek won a well-deserved Oscar for the role, in which she not only acted the role, but sang all the songs as well. D'Angelo also did her own singing as Patsy Cline.