When Cal (Gerald McRaney) and his niece Fern (Alison Pill) move to Bethlehem, Kentucky, they are lacking Christmas spirit. Cal must tackle the depressing job of digging the school district out of a deep financial hole while Fern is angry about yet another move, this time to the home of her eccentric grandfather (Andy Griffith). But when they meet the lovely music teacher, Lily Waite (Naomi Judd), both Cal and Fern have a change of heart. Fern begins to take an interest in music again a passion of her late mother's and Cal takes an interest in Lily. Life seems perfect for everyone until Cal's job forces him to make a decision that might change everything.