If you spent any time on the internet between 2016 and 2018, you literally couldn't escape the "Jenzie" phenomenon. It was everywhere. It was a digital fever dream of matching hoodies, acoustic guitar covers, and teenage fans analyzing the millisecond of eye contact in a YouTube thumbnail. Mackenzie Ziegler and Johnny Orlando weren't just two pop stars collaborating; they were the blueprint for the Gen Z "ship."
But then, the noise stopped. Sorta.
Fast forward to 2026, and the landscape is wild. Kenzie is hitting film festivals with prestige indies, and Johnny is selling out tours with a much more mature, alternative-pop sound. Yet, the same question still clogs up their comment sections: Did they ever actually date? Honestly, the answer is way more complicated than a simple "yes" or "no." It involves a "no talking" stage, a massive fan fallout, and a recent reunion that caught everyone off guard.
The Jenzie Era: Beyond the "Day & Night" Hype
Let's look at the facts. In 2016, Kenzie was fresh off Dance Moms and trying to find her own voice outside of Maddie’s shadow. Johnny was the Canadian kid with a massive YouTube following. When they dropped "Day & Night," it wasn't just a song. It was a cultural reset for the middle-school demographic.
They spent the next two years practically joined at the hip.
- The Day & Night Tour across North America and the UK.
- Constant appearances on the Brat TV series Total Eclipse.
- The 2018 hit "What If," which is basically a 3-minute song about being in love with your best friend.
The chemistry was undeniable. Johnny's family and Kenzie's family (especially their moms, Melissa and Meredith) were—and still are—legit best friends. This wasn't just a PR stunt cooked up by a label. They grew up together in the weird, high-pressure bubble of child stardom. When you're 13 and 15, spending 24/7 with someone on a tour bus, lines get blurry.
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Johnny has admitted in past interviews that "What If" was inspired by the real-life "what if" of their relationship. But did they ever put a label on it? For years, they stuck to the "we're just best friends" script. Kenzie eventually revealed on a 2024 livestream that while there were definitely feelings, they never officially became a couple. The pressure of millions of people watching your every move as a pre-teen is a mood killer.
That Infamous "No Talking" Stage
If you noticed a sudden chill in the air around 2021, you weren't imagining it. The duo stopped posting together. They stopped liking each other’s photos. Eventually, they unfollowed each other.
The internet went into a tailspin.
The truth behind the "beef" wasn't actually a big fight between them. It was the fandom. According to Kenzie, the "Jenzie" fans became so toxic that it started ruining their actual friendship. Fans were digging up Kenzie’s past mistakes to "protect" Johnny, and vice versa. It got ugly. To save their sanity, they entered a "no talking" stage. They needed space to become adults without being tethered to a childhood ship.
"We had to grow up separately to figure out who we were without the 'Jenzie' label attached to every single thing we did." — Kenzie on the Ziegler Diary podcast.
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It’s a common story in Hollywood, but when it happens to the kids you grew up watching, it feels personal. During this time, Kenzie leaned heavily into her acting, eventually landing roles in The Fallout and the recent 2025 breakout She Dances alongside Steve Zahn. Johnny, meanwhile, moved toward a grittier sound with his 2024 album The Ride and his 2025 singles like "Emilia" and "The Crowd."
The 2025 Reunion: A New Chapter
Just when everyone thought the friendship was dead for good, 2025 happened.
In late 2025, Kenzie appeared in Johnny Orlando's music video for "Emilia." It wasn't the bubblegum pop of their youth. It was mature, cinematic, and—honestly—a little bit heartbreaking. Seeing them back on screen together felt like a full-circle moment for the fans who stuck around.
They aren't dating. Let's just clear that up right now. Kenzie has been open about her own relationship journey, and Johnny is currently focused on his "Famous" world tour. But they are friends again. Their families still hang out, and they’ve finally reached a place where they can support each other's careers without the internet demanding a wedding.
What the Career Paths Look Like Now
If you’re following them today, you’re seeing two very different artists.
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Kenzie Ziegler in 2026:
She’s become a legitimate indie darling. Her performance in She Dances (releasing widely in March 2026) has critics talking about her "rediscovery" of dance through acting. She’s no longer the "little sister" from Dance Moms. She’s a 21-year-old actress with range. She’s also signed with Hollywood Records, though she’s being much more selective about her music releases these days.
Johnny Orlando in 2026:
Johnny is currently the face of Canadian pop-rock. He’s moved away from the "teen idol" image and into something more akin to a young Shawn Mendes or Troye Sivan. His 2026 tour dates show he’s playing much larger venues, and his latest tracks have over 1.2 billion streams combined. He’s grown into a songwriter who isn't afraid to be vulnerable about the pitfalls of fame.
Why Their Connection Still Matters
The reason people still care about Mackenzie Ziegler and Johnny Orlando isn't just about the gossip. It’s about nostalgia. They represent a specific era of the internet—the Musical.ly to TikTok transition—where everything felt a bit more innocent and collaborative.
They’ve handled the "child star" transition better than most. By taking that break and having that "no talking" period, they managed to avoid the burnout that claims so many others. They didn't let the "Jenzie" brand destroy their actual human connection.
If you're still holding out hope for a romantic reunion, you might be waiting a while. They seem genuinely happy as "ex-best-friends-turned-collaborators." And honestly? That's probably a much healthier place to be.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the She Dances trailer to see Kenzie's latest acting work; it’s a total shift from her earlier roles.
- Listen to Johnny Orlando's new single "Emilia" and watch the video for that 2025 reunion vibe.
- If you're looking for more info on their early days, the Day & Night tour vlogs are still on YouTube and offer a great look at the "Jenzie" peak.