This is the story about an alcoholic country western singer that makes a complete mess of her life. Gwyneth Paltrow plays the character of Kelly Canter. Kelly used to be a good singer, but now she is a washed-up, worn-out, alcoholic who has seen much better days. Her husband James Canter (played by Tim McGraw) does not want to accept this. Kelly ends up in rehab because she is overwhelmed with alcohol addiction. It has gotten so bad that she fell on stage while drunk, killing her unborn baby in the process. Her husband James wants her to pick up the pieces and get back on the road because there is a lot of money at stake and her career is on the verge of dying.
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Kelly agrees to leave rehab too soon, after the insistence of her husband James. She is ill-prepared for the rigors of touring and immediately starts to fall apart once again. Kelly seeks out the support of her friend Beau Hutton (played by Garrett Hedlund) who she had an affair with. Beau rescues Kelly when she falters on stage which saves the show, but makes Kelly's husband jealous. Then we she see Kelly's husband having an affair with the winner of a beauty pageant named Chiles Stanton (played by Leighton Meester). James wants Chiles to open for Kelly, Kelly wants Beau. This sets up a major confrontation between the married couple.
Meanwhile, Kelly has no control at all over her alcohol addiction. While everyone is waiting for her to appear at the big show in Austin she has instead gone off to the nearest dive bar and gets smashed on booze. Beau starts to have an interest in Chiles. Beau and Chiles perform a song together, as a combined opening act, which is very romantic. The promoter wants to cancel the tour because Kelly is falling apart. Kelly keeps the tour going by having sex with the promoter. Beau finds out about this and it disgusts him. His reaction is to make love with Chiles the same night and give up on Kelly.
At the final show, Beau and Chiles perform, then to everyone's surprise Kelly comes out and does a perfect show, absolutely sober. After the show is over shes commits suicide leaving a note for Beau that says love and fame cannot exist at the same time and asking Beau to choose love. Beau goes with Chiles to California taking Kelly's advice.
Best part of story, including ending:
Gwyneth Paltrow does an absolutely fantastic job playing such a wreck of a person in the character Kelly Canter. It is a stellar performance.
Best scene in story:
When Beau saves Kelly on stage during a performance where she is faltering, it is a sweet sensitive moment and gives us a good appreciation of the depth of relationship between the characters.
Opinion about the main character:
Well, Kelly is a mess. She is falling apart. But she still sees how love is important in the end.
