# MacKenzie Porter

MacKenzie Lea Porter (born January 29, 1990) is a Canadian country singer, songwriter, and actress. She has released two albums (MacKenzie Porter and Nobody's Born with a Broken Heart) and achieved four Canada Country number ones with "About You", "These Days", "Seeing Other People", and "Pickup". She was featured on Dustin Lynch's number one Country Airplay hit "Thinking 'Bout You". She is one-half of "Thelma and James", a musical duo with her husband Jake Etheridge. As an actor she is best known for her leading role as a future-sent medic in the television series Travelers.

## Early life

MacKenzie Porter was raised on a cattle and bison ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta. She began studying piano, violin, and voice at age four. While growing up she toured in a family band with her brother, 2004 Canadian Idol winner Kalan Porter. Their grandfather Bob Porter was Member of Parliament for Medicine Hat from 1988 to 1993.

## Film and TV career

Porter has appeared in numerous films and television productions, including Dinosapien (2007), Hell on Wheels, and Travelers (2016). She earned a Best Actress in Alberta award for her role in the 2008 television film The Other Woman. She was also named as one of the Top 11 Hottest Vancouver Actors to Watch for in 2011 by BC Living magazine.

## Music career
### Early career: Self-titled album

After moving to Vancouver to pursue acting, Porter teamed up with musician and actor Andrew Jenkins to form the band The Black Boots. In 2010, she launched a solo career. Porter was the winner of the 2011 Nashville North Star competition. She has opened for Kenny Chesney, Doc Walker, and Trooper among others, and has performed for Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gene Simmons.
In October 2012, Porter released her debut single, "I Wish I'd Known". Her second single, "Never Gonna Let You", was co-written and produced by Carolyn Dawn Johnson. Porter was chosen as one of six acts for the inaugural Canadian Country Music Association Discovery Program in 2013. She was also nominated for the Rising Star Award at the 2013 Canadian Country Music Association Awards. Her debut album was released on July 15, 2014. She is featured on the song "Circles" on Chris Lane's album Girl Problems in 2016.

### 2018–2022: Drinkin' Songs, Big Loud Records, five number ones

In 2018, Porter signed with Nashville-based Big Loud and became their first Canadian artist. She released the single "About You", co-written by Hardy. The song would hit number one on Canada Country. Porter is featured on the Dallas Smith song "Friends Don't Let Friends Drink Alone" with Dean Brody.
In March 2019, Porter released the single "These Days", which charted on Canadian country, pop, and adult hits charts as well as on the US Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. It also reached number one on Canada Country, making Porter the first Canadian woman to land back-to-back Number Ones since Shania Twain. She then opened for Dallas Smith and Dean Brody on their co-headlining cross-Canada Friends Don't Let Friends Tour Alone Tour. In February 2020, Porter released "Seeing Other People" which would become her third consecutive number one, making her the first woman (Canadian or American) to land three consecutive Number Ones on Canadian country radio since Twain.
Porter's EP Drinkin' Songs: The Collection was released in November 2020. The EP was her debut American release and included her three chart-toppers in addition to her top five hit "Drinkin' Songs". It received a nomination for Country Album of the Year at the 2021 Juno Awards. In March 2021, she featured on the Dustin Lynch single "Thinking 'Bout You", and then joined Canadian pop artist Virginia to Vegas on the single "This Sucks." in September 2021. She released the song "Pickup" later that year; it became a single in early 2022. "Thinking 'Bout You" spent six weeks atop the Country Airplay chart, marking Porter's first number one in the U.S., and spent a record-breaking 28 weeks in the top ten. Meanwhile, "Pickup" would go on to reach number one on Canada Country, and achieve gold-certification. Later that year, she joined fellow Canadian country artist Dallas Smith on the single "One Too".

### 2023–present: Nobody's Born with a Broken Heart, Thelma and James

In March 2023, Porter participated in an all-star recording of Serena Ryder's single "What I Wouldn't Do", which was released as a charity single to benefit Kids Help Phone's Feel Out Loud campaign for youth mental health. In May 2023, she released "Chasing Tornadoes", the second single off her upcoming full-length album. In the fall of 2023, Porter embarked on her first tour named "The Canadian Headlining Tour". While on tour, she released the single "Bet You Break My Heart". Porter also joined Canadian pop singer Elijah Woods on a new version of his song "Last Girl".
In January 2024, Porter announced the release of her second full-length studio album, Nobody's Born with a Broken Heart on Big Loud Records. The nineteen-track album was released on April 26, 2024, and includes the singles "Pickup", "Chasing Tornadoes", "Bet You Break My Heart", and "Have Your Beer", as well as four songs that were released concurrently with the album's announcement, including "Easy to Miss". Porter received six nominations at the 2024 Canadian Country Music Awards, and won Female Artist of the Year. She also co-hosted the award show alongside Thomas Rhett.
In January 2025, Porter and her husband Jake Etheridge collaborated on the song "Happy Ever After You", released under the duo name "Thelma & James".

## Personal life

In 2014 Porter and actor/singer-songwriter Jake Etheridge began dating. Etheridge appeared in the 2019 music video for Porter's 2018 song "About You". She and Etheridge were engaged in mid-/late May or early June 2019, and they married in July 2020.
In November 2023, Porter announced she was pregnant with her and Etheridge's first child. On March 14th, 2024 Mackenzie and her husband welcomed their first child, a daughter.

## Tours

* The Canadian Headline Tour (2023)

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | Dinosapien | Courtney | 11 episodes |
| 2007 | Christmas in Wonderland | Shane | |
| 2008 | The Other Woman | Lauren | Television film |
| 2008 | 45 R.P.M. | Debbie Baxter | |
| 2009 | Wild Roses | Viki | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Supernatural | Kim | Episode: "Clap Your Hands If You Believe" |
| 2010 | Ice Quake | Girl | Television film |
| 2011 | Endgame | Kim Sharland | Episode: "The Other Side of Summer" |
| 2011 | R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour | Alexa | Episode: "Pool Shark" |
| 2011 | Finding a Family | Jen Bante | Television film |
| 2012 | Gay Dude | Country Singer | |
| 2012 | Chained | Iphigenia | Short film |
| 2012 | R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour | Lanie | Episode: "Stage Fright" |
| 2012 | Seattle Superstorm | Chloe Peterson | Television film |
| 2012 | A Killer Among Us | Marissa Drake | Television film |
| 2012 | The Horses of McBride | Nicki Davidson | Television film |
| 2013 | All's Fair in Love and Advertising | Kelly Burns | Television film |
| 2013 | Leap 4 Your Life | Brooke | |
| 2013 | Emma's Wings: A Bella Sara Tale | Emma | Voice |
| 2013 | Guess Who's Coming to Christmas | Kelly Harding | Television film |
| 2014 | Blackstone | Brianna | 2 episodes |
| 2014–2016 | Hell on Wheels | Naomi Bohannon | 12 episodes |
| 2016–2018 | Travelers | Marcy Warton | Main role |
| 2018 | Darrow & Darrow: In The Key Of Murder | Phoebe | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2022 | The Cowboy and the Movie Star | Isabella | Television film (Hallmark) |

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Title | Details |
| MacKenzie Porter | Release date: July 15, 2014 Label: Road Angel |
| Nobody's Born with a Broken Heart | Release date: April 26, 2024 Label: Big Loud |

### Extended plays

| Title | Details |
| Drinkin' Songs: The Collection | Release date: November 6, 2020 Label: Big Loud |

### Singles
#### As lead artist

| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Year | Title | CAN | CAN AC | CAN CHR | CAN Country | CAN Hot AC | US Country Songs | US Country Airplay | Certifications | Album |
| 2012 | "I Wish I'd Known" | — | — | — | 34 | — | — | — | | MacKenzie Porter |
| 2013 | "Never Gonna Let You" | 96 | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | | MacKenzie Porter |
| 2014 | "If You Ask Me To" | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | | MacKenzie Porter |
| 2014 | "Misfit Parade" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | MacKenzie Porter |
| 2015 | "Rodeo" | — | — | — | 32 | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| 2018 | "About You" | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | MC: Gold | Drinkin' Songs: The Collection |
| 2019 | "These Days" | 44 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 45 | 56 | MC: 2× Platinum | Drinkin' Songs: The Collection |
| 2020 | "Seeing Other People" | 92 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | MC: Gold | Drinkin' Songs: The Collection |
| 2020 | "Drinkin' Songs" | 74 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | MC: Gold | Drinkin' Songs: The Collection |
| 2021 | "This Sucks." (with Virginia to Vegas) | — | — | 26 | — | 42 | — | — | | Remember That Time We |
| 2022 | "Pickup" | 65 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | MC: Platinum | Nobody's Born with a Broken Heart |
| 2022 | "One Too" (with Dallas Smith) | 90 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | MC: Gold | Dallas Smith |
| 2023 | "Chasing Tornadoes" | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | MC: Gold | Nobody's Born with a Broken Heart |
| 2023 | "Bet You Break My Heart" | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | | Nobody's Born with a Broken Heart |
| 2024 | "Easy to Miss" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Nobody's Born with a Broken Heart |
| 2024 | "Have Your Beer" | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | | Nobody's Born with a Broken Heart |
| 2024 | "Coming Home to You" (featuring Owen Riegling) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory |||||||||||

#### As part of Thelma & James

| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Year | Title | AUS Country | CAN Country | Album |
| 2025 | "Happy Ever After You" (with Jake Etheridge) | 20 | 20 | TBA |

#### As featured artist

| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Year | Title | CAN | CAN Country | US | US Country Songs | US Country Airplay | Certifications | Album |
| 2021 | "Thinking 'Bout You" (with Dustin Lynch) | 46 | 2 | 30 | 2 | 1 | MC: 2× Platinum | Blue in the Sky |

### Music videos

| Year | Title | Director |
| 2012 | "I Wish I'd Known" | David Tenniswood |
| 2013 | "Never Gonna Let You" | David Tenniswood |
| 2014 | "If You Ask Me To" | David Tenniswood |
| 2014 | "Misfit Parade" | David Tenniswood |
| 2015 | "Rodeo" | David Tenniswood |
| 2019 | "About You" | Justin Clough |
| 2020 | "These Days" | Justin Clough |
| 2020 | "Seeing Other People" | Justin Clough |
| 2021 | "Drinkin' Songs" | Justin Clough |
| 2021 | "Thinking 'Bout You" (with Dustin Lynch) | Justin Nolan Key |
| 2021 | "This Sucks." (with Virginia to Vegas) | |
| 2021 | "Unlonely Me" | Justin Clough |
| 2022 | "Pickup" | Justin Clough |
| 2022 | "One Too" (with Dallas Smith) | Un­known |
| 2023 | "Chasing Tornadoes" | Justin Clough |
| 2024 | "Easy to Miss" | Justin Clough |
| 2024 | "Confession" | Justin Clough |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Result |
| 2013 | Canadian Country Music Association | Rising Star | Nominated |
| 2013 | Leo Awards | Best Female Lead in a Television Movie | Nominated |
| 2014 | Canadian Country Music Association | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2015 | Juno Awards of 2015 | Country Album of the Year – MacKenzie Porter | Nominated |
| 2015 | Canadian Country Music Association | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2015 | Canadian Country Music Association | Video of the Year – "If You Ask Me To" | Nominated |
| 2015 | Canadian Country Music Association | All Star Band – Fiddle | Nominated |
| 2016 | Canadian Country Music Association | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2020 | Canadian Country Music Association | Fans’ Choice Award | Nominated |
| 2020 | Canadian Country Music Association | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2020 | Canadian Country Music Association | Songwriter(s) Of The Year – "These Days" (shared with Jordan Sapp, Parker Welling) | Nominated |
| 2021 | Juno Awards of 2021 | Country Album of the Year – Drinkin' Songs: The Collection | Nominated |
| 2021 | 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated |
| 2021 | 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards | Fans’ Choice Award | Nominated |
| 2021 | 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2021 | 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards | Video of the Year – "Drinkin' Songs" | Nominated |
| 2022 | Canadian Country Music Awards | Songwriter(s) of the Year – "Pickup" (shared with Will Bundy, Lydia Vaughan) | Nominated |
| 2022 | Canadian Country Music Awards | Video of the Year | Nominated |
| 2022 | Canadian Country Music Awards | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | Juno Awards of 2023 | Fan Choice | Nominated |
| 2023 | 2023 Canadian Country Music Awards | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | 2023 Canadian Country Music Awards | Musical Collaboration of the Year – "One Too" (with Dallas Smith) | Won |
| 2023 | 2023 Canadian Country Music Awards | Video of the Year – "One Too" | Nominated |
| 2024 | Canadian Country Music Association | Album of the Year - Nobody's Born with a Broken Heart | Nominated |
| 2024 | Canadian Country Music Association | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated |
| 2024 | Canadian Country Music Association | Fans' Choice | Nominated |
| 2024 | Canadian Country Music Association | Female Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2024 | Canadian Country Music Association | Single of the Year – "Chasing Tornadoes" | Nominated |
| 2024 | Canadian Country Music Association | Video of the Year – "Chasing Tornadoes" | Won |
| 2025 | Juno Awards | Country Album of the Year – Nobody's Born with a Broken Heart | Pending |