Rising duo Thelma & James … the husband-and-wife team of MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge … have officially released their highly anticipated debut EP, Starting Over.
Alongside the eight-song project, they’ve shared the official music video for the standout single “Parking Lot Prayers,” giving fans a deeper glimpse into their heartfelt, harmony-rich sound.
The EP arrives at a milestone moment for the pair, who will make their Grand Ole Opry debut on September 23, following a performance at the Nashville Film Festival Awards Ceremony earlier that week.
A Fresh Start with Familiar Faces
Although both Porter and Etheridge have been carving out individual careers in music for years, their partnership as Thelma & James feels like a fresh beginning. “We have both been making music for years, but writing together is new, exciting and has inspired us in ways we didn’t expect,” the duo shared. “These songs are the beginning of Thelma & James. This is us, starting over.”
That sentiment takes on added weight in the EP’s title track, “Starting Over,” co-written with revered songwriter Lori McKenna. It’s an emotional anchor for a project rooted in vulnerability, renewal, and the couple’s undeniable chemistry.
Viral Beginnings and Star Support
Their journey as a duo unexpectedly began with “Happy Ever After You,” a stripped-down ballad written during their first co-write in over a decade. The song quickly went viral, catching the attention of Kendall Jenner, John Mayer, Luke Combs, and more. Billboard praised the track as a “pared-back ballad of a love undimmed by the time and miles between,” while Atwood Magazine described the pair as having “heartbreak in their harmonies and fire in their veins.”
That early success opened doors for Thelma & James to collaborate with an impressive roster of GRAMMY®-winning songwriters, including Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna, Josh Osborne, and Emily Weisband … names whose fingerprints can be found across Starting Over.
Songs That Leave a Mark
From the haunting honesty of “Parking Lot Prayers” to the swampy Americana grit of “Chainsmokin Memories” and the aching tenderness of “First Love,” the EP showcases the duo’s versatility. Other highlights include “Nostalgic for Nothing,” “Loser,” “Canaries in a Coal Mine,” and the title track, each drenched in raw emotion and striking harmonies.
Every song was co-written by Porter and Etheridge, with production helmed by Lonas. The result is a cohesive project that blends singer-songwriter intimacy with Americana textures and pop-country accessibility.
On Stage and Beyond
Built for the stage, these songs have already started resonating live. Last week, Thelma & James performed at Big Loud’s AMERICANAFEST Takeover at Skydeck, sharing the bill with Charles Wesley Godwin, Stephen Wilson Jr., and other trailblazers. With their Opry debut just days away and tour plans in the works, it’s clear the duo is just getting started.
Starting Over Track List
- Happy Ever After You (MacKenzie Porter, Jake Etheridge)
- Chainsmokin Memories (Jake Etheridge, Jordan Minton, MacKenzie Porter, Jordan Reynolds, Parker Welling)
- Loser (Jake Etheridge, Natalie Hemby, MacKenzie Porter)
- Parking Lot Prayers (Jake Etheridge, MacKenzie Porter, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Weisband)
- Canaries in a Coal Mine (Jake Etheridge, Josh Osborne, MacKenzie Porter, Scott Stepakoff)
- Nostalgic for Nothing (Jake Etheridge, MacKenzie Porter, Jordan Reynolds, Parker Welling)
- First Love (Jake Etheridge, Lauren Hungate, MacKenzie Porter)
- Starting Over (Jake Etheridge, Lori McKenna, MacKenzie Porter)
With Starting Over, Thelma & James aren’t just introducing themselves … they’re reintroducing the power of honest songwriting, delivered by two voices made to sing together.
In country music, the Front Porch has long been a place of reflection. A place where you can look at the life you have inside that front door. A place where time almost seems to stand still, where you can get away. It’s also a place where you can go to observe the world as it passes by you. To think about your place out there beyond the driveway.
