Helen Leonard, who was born in Clinton, Iowa at the beginning of the Civil War, moves with her family to New York, where, under the tutelage of music teacher Leopold Damrosch, she develops into a talented singer. While returning home from her lessons one day, Helen meets Alexander Moore, an aspiring reporter, when he stops her runaway carriage, and later, they make a pact to celebrate together when they find success.
Success comes quickly to Helen when impresario Tony Pastor overhears her singing and puts her on stage as Lillian Russell. Lillian's rise to immediate stardom prompts her suffragette mother to warn that success will interfere with her personal happiness. Sadly, Mrs. Leonard's prediction comes true when Alexander, who is in love with Lillian, becomes intimidated by her fame and loses touch with her.
Although showered by jewels sent by railroad entrepreneur "Diamond" Jim Brady and pursued by Jessie Lewisohn, Lillian chooses to marry frustrated composer Edward Solomon.
After the wedding, the newlyweds travel to London, where Edward's temperamental meddling provokes William Gilbert to fire Lillian. Soon after the birth of their daughter, Edward dies of a heart attack, and Lillian, driven by her husband's dream for her success in Europe, triumphs in London.
Lillian returns home to a marriage proposal from Diamond Jim, which she refuses. That night, Alexander, who now owns a newspaper in Pittsburgh, comes to visit Lillian backstage, and their old love is rekindled.
