Thelma & James (MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge) Hit the Canadian Airplay Charts after Viral TikTok Duet
Canadians James Barker Band and Alex Sampson also notch new all-format entries this week, while The Tragically Hip hits No. 2 on the Mainstream Rock chart behind Three Days Grace.
MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge
MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge are scoring their own happy ever after.
The married duo released their first song together, "Happy Ever After You" in January following a viral TikTok duet clip. Now, the full version of that track has entered the Billboard Canada All-Format Airplay chart at No. 39 for the chart dated March 1.
The song is a gentle country song that finds a separated pair reflecting on missing each other. In real life, Porter — who hails from Medicine Hat, Alberta — and Etheridge are happily together and building a new writing partnership.
The two met songwriting over a decade ago, but hadn't written together again until "Happy Ever After." The song got a strong response online — and from musicians like John Mayer and Brandi Carlile — before it was even released. It shows off an easy chemistry between the couple, even just in audio format.
It's a good week for country and country-adjacent Canadian artists on the All-Format chart. Ontario country band James Barker Band's "You Didn't Hear It From Me" enters at No. 42, an upbeat track energized by lovelorn obsession.
Youthful crooner and America's Got Talent semifinalist Alex Sampson also has a new entry, the '50s-throwback ballad "Pretty Baby" at No. 50. It's also performing well on the CHR/Top 40 chart, rising 17-14 this week.
Higher up the All-Format chart, B.C. singer Cameron Whitcomb is gaining momentum with "Quitter" climbing 19-13, while Hailey Benedict's "Things My Mama Says" rises 23-17. That song also hits the top ten on Canada Country chart, moving up 11-9. Benedict performed the coming-of-age single at Billboard Canada Women in Music 2024, where she announced her signing to Nashville's Big Loud Records.
Canadians are also doing well on the rock airplay charts. The Tragically Hip climb to No. 2 on Mainstream Rock with "Wait So Long," the unearthed track off the 2024 release of their 1989 debut, Up To Here. That's just behind "Mayday" by Canadian rockers Three Days Grace, who recently spoke to Billboard about their new two-singer approach. Kitchener, Ontario singer JJ Wilde also hits No. 2 on the Modern Rock chart with the revved-up "Mess To Make."
The top of the Airplay charts are mostly unchanged. Myles Smith's "Stargazing" holds at No. 1 on the All-Format and AC charts and moves to No. 1 on the Hot AC chart, bumping down "Die With a Smile." ROSE & Bruno Mars' "APT." holds at No. 1 on the CHR/Top 40 chart.
Lainey Wilson moves up to No. 1 on Canada Country, knocking Post Malone and Luke Combs' "Guy For That" to No. 2. Hozier's "Nobody's Soldier" continues to rule Modern Rock.
Check out the full charts here and our weekly breakdown of the Canadian Airplay charts here.
