At eighteen the mother of four children and busy housewife Loretta Lynn (Sissy Spacek) still finds time to write and sing songs at small fairs and local honky-tonks. Recognizing her raw talent and huge potential her ambitious husband Mooney (Tommy Lee Jones) prods her into making a record and going to Nashville. After a performance at the Grand Ole Opry the record becomes a smash hit launching her career to super stardom and changing the sound and style of Country Music forever.