In 1838 Pennsylvania, Jeanie MacDowell lives a contented life filled with music. She loves the piano and takes lessons from her mother, and she makes music with her closest friends: Steven, a gifted harmonica player, and Bill, a skilled banjo player. Together the three play like a little band. Everything shatters when Jeanie's mother dies unexpectedly. After many hardships teach her how precious life is, Jeanie resolves to spend her life helping people who suffer from illness. At its heart is an emotional love story between Jeanie and young Stephen Foster, who will go on to become a famous composer and write songs for children, and who will one day make Jeanie his wife.