The story takes place over five days in Nashville also known as Music City. The film reveals the lives of country music stars, hopefuls and wannabes all while Presidential Candidate Hal Phillip Walker (who is never seen) seeks the Presidency through the creation of a new political party named, The Replacement Party which seeks to ban lawyers from government and even change the lyrics of the National Anthem. A reporter from BBC named Opal also journeys through the landscape of characters in Music City in order to create a documentary.
On Day 1 Opal arrives in Nashville amidst Walker's campaign and we are with her in studio when she is told to leave. We find that Haven is a controlling star, Barbara Jean has been victim to a burn accident and the folk trio Bill, Mary and Tom has the potential to fall completely apart as Mary who is married to Bill is in love with Tom who is, simply put, a womanizer. As the film progresses over the course of the next four days the lives of the elite Nashville music scene intersects with the lives of those that are trying to break in, from the groupies to the politically aspiring. And we watch as the seemingly wonderful lives of these people are gripped with emotional turmoil through the personal journey's of the reality of these people's lives. We watch as Opal gets caught up in the current of Tom's two-timing and the uneasiness of the burden of unrequited love becomes apparent as a major theme of the film.
The culmination of the story comes at the Parthenon where a concert is being held with the stars of Music City. And Kenny, who has been carrying around his violin case which he fervently protects, pulls a gun from it and opens fire on Barbara Jean and Haven. Kenny is restrained and it appears Haven is okay, but Barbara Jean is bleeding and not moving. In the end Winifred, who's been waiting for her opportunity to become known in the public's eye, sings before the massive crowd of people and this tragedy is counted as her big break.
