Pure Country: Pure Heart 2017
Directed by
Damon Santostefano
Made by
WWE Studios
Pure Country: Pure Heart Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Pure Country: Pure Heart (2017). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Ada Spencer, [Kaitlyn Bausch], and her younger sister Piper, [Cozi Zuehlsdorff], grow up in a rural Tennessee farmhouse under the care of their widowed mother Elizabeth, [Amanda Detmer], and their grandmother Meemaw, [Myra Turley]. Their father died when they were young, and Elizabeth has kept his life largely private, leaving Ada and Piper with a mix of curiosity and unanswered questions about who he really was.
When a burst water pipe reveals a Silver Star and other hints about their father, the sisters feel a pull to uncover the truth behind the man they never fully knew. They secretly tell their mother they’re headed to the farm of Ada’s friend Justine, [Dara Sisterhen], but they’re really hitching rides to chase down clues about their dad’s past and his music. The discovery sets off a journey that will force the family to confront memory, myth, and the cost of keeping secrets.
Their early stops include the nearby State Veteran’s Home, where they meet Henry Monroe, [Lawrence Turner], an Iraq War veteran who says he served with their father in the Marines in 2004 and recalls how their father saved his life by leaping onto a grenade. They also encounter C.J. Simms, [Ronny Cox], a Korean War veteran and musician, whose warmth and appreciation for their singing opens a doorway to a wider world of music and storytelling. C.J. invites them to perform at a local festival, giving the sisters a taste of the stage they’ve heard about from old stories and old records.
Driven by a growing sense of identity and purpose, the girls travel to Nashville to learn more about their father’s music career. There they meet Declan Martino, [Matthew Barnes], who quickly becomes a central figure in Ada’s life as the two connect and start a romance. Declan ushers the sisters to meet Marq Dunn, [Laura Bell Bundy], the woman their father worked with to write and record songs. Marq’s warmth and professional generosity lead to an invitation for the sisters to return to Nashville and lay down a song, immersing them in the world their father inhabited.
Back home, Elizabeth confronts the mounting worries as she discovers the lies about their whereabouts. The sisters, feeling betrayed, accuse their mother of keeping the truth about their father’s music and military life from them. In a pivotal moment, Meemaw steps forward and reveals a quieter, more bittersweet truth: their father paused his music when he met Elizabeth, choosing to start a family, and that a life of art and love intersected with the ordinary demands of parenthood. The revelation helps the family understand that Brian’s choices shaped not only his own path but the paths of those who loved him.
The film closes with a poignant reconciliation: Elizabeth visits Marq Dunn and confesses a tangle of jealousy and guilt—she has sometimes wondered what might have been if Brian had stayed in music alongside Marq. In a moving finale, Ada and Piper sing one of their father’s songs on a stage shared with Marq and the legendary Willie Nelson, [Willie Nelson], at a veterans fundraiser, while the crowd responds to the voice that ties generations together. The moment blends memory, music, and gratitude, underscoring how a family’s past can illuminate a hopeful future.
Pure Country: Pure Heart Timeline
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Discovery of their father's history after the pipe burst
The film opens with a burst water pipe at a rural Tennessee farmhouse, where Ada and Piper uncover a Silver Star and other clues about their father. They learn that their mother has never spoken of him, which deepens the mystery surrounding his life. The discovery sets the sisters on a determined quest to learn who he really was.
Secret pursuit begins; lies to their mother
Deciding to learn more, the sisters lie to their mother about visiting Justine's farm and instead sneak rides to chase clues about their father. They keep the trips discreet, following Justine to different towns to uncover his past. The secret quest begins to loosen the family's silence around him.
Henry Monroe shares memories of their father
While visiting the State Veterans Home, the girls meet Henry Monroe, an Iraq War veteran who says he served with their father in the Marines in 2004. Henry recounts that their father saved his life by jumping on a grenade, a story that confirms his bravery. The encounter provides the first concrete link between their father and the world beyond their hometown.
C.J. Simms inspires with a musical invitation
They also meet C.J. Simms, a Korean War veteran and musician, who is impressed by the sisters' singing. C.J. invites them to perform at a local music festival, offering a tangible path into the professional world. The invitation expands their quest from curiosity to opportunity.
Decision to travel to Nashville
With new leads and inspiration, the sisters decide to travel to Nashville to learn more about their father and his music. The journey marks a shift from small-town inquiries to pursuing the musical legacy he left behind. Their move to the city sets the stage for deeper discoveries.
Ada meets Declan and begins a romance
In Nashville, Ada meets Declan and the pair quickly connect. Declan helps them navigate the music scene and becomes a romantic interest for Ada. The relationship accelerates their access to conversations about their father.
Declan sets up a meeting with Marq Dunn
Declan arranges for Ada and Piper to meet Marq Dunn, the woman who worked with their father on music. The sisters are excited to hear stories and potentially gain a direct link to his past. This connection deepens their understanding of his career.
Marq invites them to record a song
Marq invites the sisters back to Nashville to record a song after hearing them sing, giving them a concrete opportunity to participate in their father's musical world. They are thrilled by the invitation and feel closer to him. The moment marks a turning point from investigation to collaboration.
Elizabeth confronts the daughters; confrontation about lies
Elizabeth confronts Ada and Piper about their lies and hiding their whereabouts. The sisters defend themselves by accusing their mother of withholding the truth about their father's music and military career. The family tension grows as truth begins to surface.
Meemaw reveals why their father stopped music
Meemaw finally reveals that their father stopped pursuing music when he met Elizabeth and wanted to start a family. The revelation reframes the earlier silence and the mother's own reluctance to discuss his life. It becomes the emotional hinge that clarifies the family history.
Backstory confirmed: father musician and Elizabeth a singer
The story confirms that their father was a musician and Elizabeth herself was a singer. This shared musical heritage helps the sisters understand why music runs through the family. The truth ties together the different threads of their quest.
Elizabeth visits Marq; jealousy and guilt
Elizabeth visits Marq and admits she has felt jealousy about Marq and guilty about taking their father, Brian, away from the musical opportunities he and Marq could have had. She recognizes the impact of her choices on their father's legacy. The moment bridges past wounds with renewed family ties.
Ada and Piper perform their father's song with Willie Nelson and Marq
Ada and Piper sing one of their father's songs on stage with Willie Nelson and Marq at a fundraiser for veterans. The performance brings their journey full circle, honoring their father and the veterans who inspired him. The film closes on a hopeful note about family, memory, and music.
Pure Country: Pure Heart Characters
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Ada Spencer (Kaitlyn Bausch)
Ada is a determined high-school student who longs to understand her late father’s life and career. She and Piper repeatedly lie to their mother to pursue clues, showing her stubborn curiosity and willingness to challenge family silence. Her budding romance with Declan deepens the search and emphasizes how music binds the generations.
Piper Spencer (Cozi Zuehlsdorff)
Piper is Ada’s younger sister, spirited and hopeful, whose singing helps bridge the gap between past and present. She joins the quest with enthusiasm, balancing mischief with loyalty as they uncover their father’s history. Her voice becomes a conduit for memory, culminating in a shared performance tied to their father’s legacy.
Elizabeth Spencer (Amanda Detmer)
Elizabeth is the widowed mother who has guarded her husband’s past, creating tension with her daughters’ search. She initially reacts with concern and suspicion, fearing that the truth could disrupt their fragile family balance. By the end, she confronts her own jealousy and guilt, recognizing how her choices influenced her children’s opportunities in music.
Declan Martino (Matthew Barnes)
Declan is a charming local musician who captures Ada’s interest and becomes a catalyst for the journey. He respects her talent, helps connect the sisters with Marq, and supports their pursuit of the past. Their romance adds emotional depth to the pursuit of their father’s legacy.
Marq Dunn (Laura Bell Bundy)
Marq is the woman who collaborated with the father and becomes a key mentor in Nashville. She invites Ada and Piper to record a song, offering a tangible link to their father’s career. Her presence helps the sisters understand the human side of fame and the choices that shaped their father’s music.
Henry Monroe (Lawrence Turner)
Henry is an Iraq War veteran who served with the father in the Marines in 2004 and survived thanks to the father’s actions. He shares a personal memory of that sacrifice, underscoring the father’s bravery and the bonds between veterans. His perspective ties the family’s past to a broader history of service.
C.J. Simms (Ronny Cox)
C.J. is a Korean War veteran and musician who recognizes the sisters’ singing talent. He invites them to perform at a local festival, helping the past become present through music. His easygoing mentorship highlights how artistic expression can bridge generations of veterans.
Justine Sloan (Dara Sisterhen)
Justine is Ada’s friend whose farm becomes a backdrop for the sisters’ attempts to reach their father’s past. She offers a convenient cover for their meetings but remains a peripheral figure, illustrating how far the pursuit of memory can extend beyond immediate family.
Meemaw (Myra Turley)
Meemaw is the warm, aging matriarch who carries the family’s secrets and tenderness. She ultimately reveals that their father stopped pursuing music after meeting Elizabeth, providing a crucial clue about the conflict between art and family. Her guidance helps steer the family toward healing.
Willie Nelson (Himself)
Willie Nelson appears as a legendary country musician who joins the fundraiser, lending authenticity and star power to the finale. His presence amplifies the celebration of the father’s musical legacy and the sisters’ ascent into the country music world.
Shula Sloan (Jerri Tubbs)
Shula Sloan is Justine’s mother, a steady rural presence who anchors the community in which the sisters navigate their journey. Her role emphasizes the grounded, everyday side of country life.
Pure Country: Pure Heart Settings
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Time period
Early 2000s–present
The narrative unfolds in a contemporary setting with ties to past wars. References to the Iraq War (2004) and a Korean War veteran anchor the story across generations. The film interleaves present-day searches for the father’s legacy with memories of his music career and family history.
Location
Rural Tennessee farmhouse, Nashville, State Veterans Home
The story begins on a rural Tennessee farmhouse where Ada and Piper grow up with their mother and grandmother, grounding the tale in a close-knit, country setting. The action shifts to Nashville, the heart of country music, where the sisters chase their father’s past through song and memory. A State Veterans Home also features in their journey, tying together themes of service, memory, and community.
Pure Country: Pure Heart Themes
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🎵
Legacy of Music
Music serves as the central thread that ties the sisters to their father and to each other. Discovering his past through songs and memories becomes a healing journey for Ada and Piper. The.Songs performed at the fundraiser culminate in a living tribute to the father’s artistry.
🧭
Family Secrets
The sisters’ quest is driven by hidden memories their mother and grandmother have kept. Truths about their father’s career and choices emerge gradually, reframing how the family views itself. Confrontations with Elizabeth reveal the cost of shielding the past from children.
🎖️
War and Memory
Veterans across generations anchor the story, showing how service shapes identity and family history. Henry Monroe’s memories connect the past to the present, illustrating the bonding power of shared sacrifice. The narrative uses veterans’ perspectives to humanize both past glory and personal loss.
💔
Reconciliation
Guilt and jealousy surface as Elizabeth admits her insecurities about lost musical opportunities. The family learns to navigate heartbreak and forgive past choices in order to move forward. The finale suggests healing through open dialogue and shared music.
Pure Country: Pure Heart Spoiler-Free Summary
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In the rolling hills of rural Tennessee, two inseparable sisters share a deep bond forged by melody and ambition. Ada pours her heart into every lyric, while her younger sibling Piper matches that passion with a voice that seems to echo the very landscape they call home. Together they dream of one day stepping onto the bright stages of Nashville, where the rhythm of country music beats as strongly as the pulse of their own aspirations.
Life in the modest farmhouse is anchored by their widowed mother, Elizabeth, whose quiet strength has guided them through loss, and their spirited grandmother, Meemaw, whose stories linger like old vinyl on a dusty shelf. Though their father’s memory is a faint silhouette, the sisters feel a lingering presence in the family’s unspoken past—a mystery that whispers through the walls and fuels their curiosity. The lingering question of who he was and what he left behind becomes a quiet undercurrent to their everyday routines.
The world around them hums with the low‑key charm of a close‑knit community, where porch lights flicker in time with guitar strums and veterans’ tales mingle with the soft twang of a fiddle. This setting, warm yet tinged with the ache of unanswered questions, shapes a tone that is both hopeful and reflective. The sisters’ journey is poised on the edge of discovery, guided by their love for song and the subtle pull of a legacy they have yet to fully understand.
As they stand at the crossroads of family history and personal ambition, Ada and Piper find themselves poised to step beyond the familiar fields of their childhood. The promise of untold harmonies and hidden truths beckons, inviting them to explore the melodies that have always lived just beyond the horizon.
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