A talented but struggling musician, Ricki, left her family years ago to pursue rock-and-roll dreams despite the personal consequences. Now, she performs with her band, the Flash, in a small California bar while holding down a day job. Her past resurfaces when her ex-husband, Pete, contacts her asking for help with their daughter, Julie, who is in emotional turmoil after a painful divorce. Reluctantly, Ricki returns to Indiana, where she faces the family she abandoned and the life she walked away from.

Upon arriving, Ricki struggles to bridge the gap with her estranged children and confronts the resentment they harbor. She learns of the profound impact her absence had on them, particularly Julie. As tensions escalate, Ricki attempts small gestures to mend their fractured relationships while navigating old familial scars. The emotional journey forces Ricki to reconcile her pursuit of musical dreams with the responsibilities and sacrifices inherent in motherhood.