Agent Pete Garland is fired by society singer Monica Barrett after he got her a new radio contract, because she thinks her lawyer friend Teddy Leeds fits in better with her social status. To get even, Pete wants to make an unknown singer into a star. He finds Ruth Allison, drives her hard through rehearsals and makes her a star. But she is worried about her past, something she hasn't told Pete: She's an ex-convict and jumped bail in order to keep her partners in crime out of it. Further she's in love with Pete, but feels that he's still carrying a torch for Monica. When Monica's popularity is decreasing, Pete is able to get Ruth a stint on the program, the result is Monica is fired and Ruth get her job, but Monica takes revenge by revealing Ruth's past. Ruth considers it is best for her to disappear before being arrested, but she has become a star in public opinion. Will she get Pete or will she go to prison again ?

Agent Pete Garland convinces advertiser Mulrooney and radio station owner J. B. Hawley to accept popular singer Monica Barrett's new contract, even though it is for double her previous salary. When Pete brings Monica the good news, however, he discovers that she is replacing him as her adviser with society lawyer Teddy Leeds, who also has the inside track on Monica's affections. That night, at a party Pete hosts for Monica, she makes it explicit that she is throwing him over for Teddy, whom she considers her social equal. The disappointed Pete then resolves to find another singer whom he will raise from obscurity to stardom. Pete begins his search with his friend, cowboy ventriloquiest Rusty Callahan, and after many fruitless stops, they go to a beer hall, where they hear Eadie White and Ruth Allison sing. Pete immediately knows that Ruth is the singer for whom he has searched, and signs her to a contract, despite some initial confusion when the girls think Pete is the parole officer who is pursuing Ruth. Pete drives Ruth hard in rehearsal, but it pays off when she is hired for a variety of jobs. Ruth is worried, however, that she will be found by the parole officer who has been searching for her since she was released from Joliet prison. Ruth had been incarncerated on a trumped-up charge and later, after being released, she jumped parole when the police demanded that she lead them to her accomplices. Ruth keeps her prison record secret from Pete, who is still mooning over Monica and does not realize that Ruth is falling for him. Meanwhile, Monica is steadily losing popularity due to her swelled head and refusal to sing anything but opera, and when she walks out on Mulrooney's show in a fit of pique, Ruth gets her big break. Pete arranges for Ruth to sing on Mulrooney's show and she is a hit, which prompts Mulrooney to hire her and fire Monica. The jealous Monica retaliates by telling the press about Ruth's past. Ruth disappears, and in a desparate effort to find her, Pete goes on the air with testimonials to praise her. Other big radio personalities pitch in, and soon Hawley's desk is overflowing with telegrams of support for Ruth. Mulrooney is treated like a hero for giving Ruth a break, and when she finally returns to the station and joins Pete on the stage, the parole officer finds her and gives her a pardon from the governor, who has received confessions from the real culprits. Rusty and Eadie happily embrace, while Pete and Ruth share a kiss to celebrate.