Mac Sledge, portrayed by Robert Duvall, is a washed-up country singer whose life has spiraled into a haze of alcoholism. Awakening one morning in a dilapidated motel and gas station situated in Texas, he encounters Rosa Lee, a young widow played by Tess Harper. Seeking shelter, Mac proposes to work for Rosa Lee in exchange for a room, under her condition that he abstains from alcohol while employed. Rosa Lee, still mourning her husband who perished in the Vietnam War, is struggling to care for their son, Sonny, who is brought to life by Allan Hubbard.
As they share quiet evenings together, both begin to sense a deepening bond, revealing fragments of their pasts. Mac resolves to put alcohol behind him and embark on a fresh start. After some time, he and Rosa Lee marry and start attending church regularly. However, when a newspaper reporter inquires about Mac’s current life and career choices, the past comes rushing back. The reporter reveals he has spoken to Mac’s ex-wife, Dixie Scott, a country music star played by Betty Buckley, who is performing nearby.
Following the publication of the article, the community becomes aware of Mac's history, prompting members of a local country-western band to show their admiration. Despite their goodwill, Mac remains hesitant to unveil his past. A secret visit to one of Dixie's concerts, where she emotionally performs songs he penned, leaves him restless, ultimately exiting before it concludes. A backstage encounter with his old friend Harry, portrayed by Wilford Brimley, leads to a disheartening conversation regarding the changing landscape of the music business and his latest song, which Harry dismisses.
Feeling both hurt and angry, Mac drives off recklessly but aborts a dangerous drinking binge upon arriving home to a concerned Rosa Lee and Sonny. He confesses his struggles with leaving Rosa Lee, discovering he is deeply rooted in their lives. In a touching moment, both Mac and Sonny are baptized in Rosa Lee's church, marking a significant step in their renewed lives.
The plot thickens when Mia, played by [Ellen Barkin], enters the scene as Sue Anne, Mac's daughter from his previous marriage. Their reunion stirs up feelings of regret and remorse, particularly as Mac realizes the impact his past actions have had on his family. The tension escalates when Sue Anne reveals her intention to elope despite her mother's opposition. Mac faces painful memories and acknowledges his tumultuous history with Dixie, recounting a time when he was abusive in a fit of intoxication.
As their bond strengthens, the impacts of past pain linger, especially when tragedy strikes and Sue Anne is killed in a car accident. Mac attends her funeral at Dixie's extravagant Nashville residence, showing compassion toward Dixie in her time of grief.
In the wake of loss, Mac returns to a devastated but caring Rosa Lee, expressing his existential doubts in a heartfelt moment: > "I don't know why I wandered out to this part of Texas drunk, and you took me in and pitied me and helped me to straighten out, marry me. Why? Why did that happen?"
Despite the shadows of sorrow that loom over him, Mac continues to build a life with Rosa Lee and Sonny. In a poignant closing scene, as Sonny discovers a football left for him by Mac, the two share a moment of joy playing catch, while Mac gazes at their hotel from a distance, softly singing "On the Wings of a Dove" to himself, signifying the bittersweet journey of love and loss they endure together.
