MacKenzie Porter

MacKenzie Porter is a true triple threat.

An award-winning entertainer, a hit songwriter and a successful actress, she hails from a cattle and bison ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Growing up, she studied piano, violin and voice, eventually touring in a family band with her brother, 2004 Canadian Idol winner Kalan Porter. After moving to Vancouver to pursue acting, Porter launched a solo artist career in 2010, ultimately winning the 2011 season of Nashville North Star competition.

Porter's debut single, 'I Wish I'd Known,' arrived in October 2012 followed by her second single, 'Never Gonna Let You,' which helped her nab a CCMA nomination for the Rising Star Award in 2013s. By 2018, she signed with Nashville-based label Big Loud, becoming their first Canadian artist.

From there started a string of Canadian country radio No. 1s, starting with the HARDY-penned 'About You' and continuing with tracks like 'These Days' and 'Seeing Other People.' Notching three back-to-back chart-toppers, Porter made history as the first woman–either Canadian or American–to land three consecutive songs atop the Canadian country charts.

Everything really came to a head for Porter, though, in March of 2021 when she featured on the Dustin Lynch single 'Thinking 'Bout You.' Securing a staggering six weeks atop the Country Airplay chart and spending a record-breaking 28 weeks in the Top 10, the song marked Porter's very first No. 1 in the U.S.

Known for her captivating storytelling and vocal prowess, her debut album, Nobody's Born With A Broken Heart, arrived in spring of 2024, spawning standout hits like 'Pickup,' 'Chasing Tornadoes,' 'Bet You Break My Heart' and 'Have Your Beer.' Exploring heartbreak and personal growth in equal measure, the album featured 19 tracks that seamlessly blend traditional country with a sleek pop finish.

At the top of 2025, Porter teamed up with her equally talented husband, Jake Etheridge, to form the folk duo, Thelma & James, releasing viral tunes like 'Happy Ever After You' and 'First Love,' among others.

Apart from her music career, Porter has also enjoyed acting roles for the television series Travelers, as well as Dinosapien (2007), Hell on Wheels, The Other Woman and more.