A journey through the cradle of Southern culture -- and much of the American way of life in general -- this three-part series illustrates the political, economic, musical, and spiritual history of the Appalachian region.

Granny Weatherall is a spunky old lady of eighty who bosses her doctor and her children. She seems so strong and in control. Yet she has never had the upper hand in her destiny. One morning, a flood of long-forgotten memories bring her to the realization that of all her accomplishments, she cannot console herself for the shame-filled day she was left standing at the altar. Still, her indomitable will to live and act independently infuses the last...