After 12 Years Together, Thelma & James Found a New Creative Spark — and an ACM Awards Nomination (Exclusive)

Sarah MichaudThu, May 14, 2026 at 2:30 PM UTC

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MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge of Thelma & James
Credit: Bree Fish -

Thelma & James' viral hit "Happily Ever After You" has over 31 million streams and caught the attention of major stars

The married duo's ACM Awards nomination marks a milestone for MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge after discovering their creative spark during a career crossroads

Their collaboration allows them to balance family life and music while currently touring with Luke Combs

Some say Thelma & James created the most beautiful little girl in the world.

"We just had to bribe her with a Popsicle," admits Thelma & James' MacKenzie Porter with a laugh of 2-year-old daughter Bowie. "She's hilarious. She has a little spice to her. She's so funny."

And while the creation of their daughter will most certainly be the couple's finest work, the country duo made up of married couple MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge are also in the middle of creating their finest music, including heart-wrenching singles such as "If You Ain't in Love by Now" and "Alternate Ending."

That music has now earned them their first ACM Awards nomination for Duo of the Year, which will stream live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 17.

"I think we were so lucky that we stumbled upon writing together after 12 years of being together, which is so crazy," says Porter, 36. "But when we did that, everything did click."

MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge of Thelma & James
Credit: Angelea Yoder

It was the magical combination of the actress-turned-country-music artist and the actor-turned-indie rock star that surprised even them. "Jake and I have very different personalities," says Porter. "That really works obviously in a relationship sense, but also a musical sense, which I was kind of surprised by, honestly."

It was December of 2024 when the realization of what Thelma & James could be came into better focus, as Porter found herself at a crossroads in her career after a split with her longtime manager. "Honestly, I was bummed about it all," says Porter. "One night, I was like, 'I'm not going to dwell in this bummed out feeling, so I want to create right now,' and it was 9 o'clock at night and Jake was like, 'Well, I'm here.'"

The two began working on a song that they had been writing on and off together for nearly a decade and quickly realized that there was something there.

That song was "Happily Ever After You."

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"For the first time, I didn't have a manager, so we posted it online," remembers Porter. "I didn't have to worry, 'Is this on brand?' or 'Is this part of our strategy?" We just put it up. And literally three days later, we were signing a record deal together."

The viral nature of "Happily Ever After You" has since garnered over 31 million global streams, capturing the attention of everyone from John Mayer and Brandi Carlile to Luke Combs and even Kendall Jenner.

"To have people that we respect and look up to hear the song and then take the time to comment or share or for Luke to reach out and ask us to tour with him — I mean, it's such a massive compliment," says Porter, who is currently out with her husband on Combs' stadium My Kinda Saturday Night Tour. "Even people who aren't in the industry or don't have a musical bone in their body, are like, 'This song just hit me.' All those comments mean a lot to us."

Jake Etheridge and MacKenzie Porter of Thelma & James opening for Luke Combs
Credit: Nick Swift

"Now, we have our morning coffee, and then Mac and I rush off and write these songs together," adds Etheridge, 38. "We have continuously been happy working together."

And thus far, it's been bliss.

"I feel like I'm surprised by that," admits Etheridge, laughing. "Not the happiness in it, but that we do work together so well and the songs that we write. These are my favorite songs, and we wrote them without incredible difficulty."

It's a great sign for not only the two of them, but for the country music industry as a whole, which seems primed for a fresh new duo. "We feel like there is a big gap and that there is a lane needing to be filled," says Porter of Thelma & James' ACM Award nomination alongside legendary duos Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay and Muscadine Bloodline. "And that is our goal."

The creation of this country duo has also changed parenthood in a whole new way for the couple. "Having a daughter, your schedule is significantly different," says Porter. "I mean, we had been struggling with me being away by myself doing my solo music and Jake being away — so this all just made sense."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”