A tramp cares for a boy after he's abandoned as a newborn by his mother. Later the mother has a change of heart and aches to be reunited with her son.

Milton Haskins, a math genius known for his infallibility with numbers, quits his job with an insurance company when he discovers he made a mistake, and hooks up with a traveling carnival. His knowledge of mathematics makes him a natural as an assistant at the wheel of fortune. His fiancée begs him to return to his job but he refuses, so she joins the carnival and becomes a striptease artist. When Milton attempts to drag her off the stage, a brawling mêlée breaks out and the entire troupe is arrested by the local police. The carnival is sold but Milton reveals that the new owner has conspired to defraud the insurance company. The insurance company has to accept the carnival in lieu of the money owed, and they allow Milton and his fiancée, Vivian, to stay with and help run the carnival.

Tennessee singing G.I. Verne Brand travels to New York City after his Army discharge. Alongside his buddies, he convinces a former bookie turned record executive to sign him, leading to a massive publicity blitz and attention from socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor. The situation draws Verne's hometown sweetheart, Marietta. to the city just as Verne becomes a television sensation in a high-stakes network ratings battle. Ultimately, Verne chooses his roots over fame, returning to Tennessee with Marietta to open a local recording studio.