MacKenzie Porter's first full-length album, "Nobody's Born with a Broken Heart," releases April 26.--SUBMITTED PHOTO COURTESY BREE MARIE FISH
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
It’s been a busy year as MacKenzie Porter returns to her roots with the release of her debut 19-track album ‘Nobody’s Born With a Broken Heart’ April 26.
Recently the Medicine Hat-born singer-songwriter has topped country music charts with No. 1 singles across Canada, U.S and Australia. Porter’s duet ‘Thinking ‘Bout You’ with Dustin Lynch earned her first-ever, six-week platinum No. 1 on U.S. country radio.
Porter has also earned 22 Canadian Country Music Awards nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, and is ready to co-host the same award show with Thomas Rhett on Sept. 16 in Hamilton.
“To be able to host it with Thoms Rhett and be the one putting on the show, especially in Edmonton in my home province, is a full-circle moment,” says Porter.
In March, Porter and husband Jake Etheridge became first time parents by welcoming their daughter Bowie.
“It’s been very, very busy but all good things,” says Porter. “The record has been such a labour of love and such a work in progress and I’ve really been grinding so many years for this project. And to have this thing I care about so much, then a baby I love so much at the same time, it’s the craziest, busiest, best of both worlds happening all at once.”
“Blood, sweat and tears” went into the production of her first full-length record, says Porter, who describes the mood of the album as based around heartbreak and difficult and unpredictable situations that occur with relationships, family and work.
“We slowly get cracks in our hearts and get messy as people,” says Porter. “But by the end of your life you want all of that to show that you really loved people and went for it, took chances in life, and really these songs are the little cracks I’ve endured along the way.”
Two tracks on Porter’s upcoming album take inspiration from her childhood in Medicine Hat growing up on a bison and cattle ranch. Porter says “Less is more” is about living a simple life.
“Out in the country and not needing all these big-city things. That’s how I grew up, literally you would step outside and it was quiet and I do miss that so much.”
‘Coming home to you’ is about the importance of family, explains Porter.
“We all play this comparison game in life, wanting bigger and better, more money and stuff. But if you don’t have your people with you, whether it’s your husband or family, then none of that stuff really matters.”
Porter says she is excited to finally give her fans all the music she has been working on for years.
“My fans have been waiting so long for a full record. I’ll never go this long between records again,” says Porter. “To release something that you’ve worked really hard on is exciting, it’s scary, it’s nerve wracking, all those things because you want it to go over well.”
Porter has tallied more than 900 million global on-demand streams and is tied with Shania Twain as the only other Canadian female to land three back-to-back No. 1 singles on Canadian country radio, and credits hard work for her rising success.
“If you work your butt off, you’re still going to hear a bunch of no’s, you’re still going to have a bumpy road sometimes, but hard work really takes you so far,” says Porter. “Also not to look at what other people are doing … just stay on your own path and focus. Work hard. We all have a different road and to compete with other people it really does just take away your happiness.”
Details haven’t been released on her next tour, however Porter told the News she would be making a stop in Medicine Hat.
