 Magnolia Hawks lives on her father Captain Andy s floating show boat, the Cotton Blossom. She meets gambler Gaylord Ravenal in a river town and falls for him. That afternoon,during the rehearsal for the evening s show, star actress Julie and her husband and co-star Steve are forced to leave the company and Gaylord is hired to take Steve s place, while Magnolia takes over Julie s. They fall in love and marry. Leaving the showboat,  Nola and Gay and their little daughter, Kim, move to Chicago, where their fortunes wax and wane depending on Gay s luck. He finally leaves his wife and child and she is forced to return to the stage, where she becomes a star.