An undeniable force, married Nashville-based singer-songwriters MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge form the new musical partnership Thelma & James. Not realizing the best writing partner was right under their noses the whole time, their first co-write in over a decade produced “Happy Ever After You.” Evolving organically from an impromptu video that earned praise from fellow artists like John Mayer, Luke Combs, Brandi Carlile and more, the song has since garnered nearly 20 million listens in just two months of release. The pair signed to Big Loud Records in 2025 and set their second-ever song “First Love” for release on March 14. Doubling down on the fortuitous new musical chapter, Thelma & James are currently in the studio with plans for new more music to follow.