Jamie Lynn Spears |
|
|---|---|
 | |
| Gender |
Female |
| Born |
April 4, 1991 (age 33) |
| Background Information | |
| Resides |
Nashville, Tennessee |
| Family |
Jamie Spears (Father) |
| Romances |
Casey Aldridge (2005-2010; ex-fiancé) |
| Occupation |
Actress & singer-songwriter |
| Active |
2002–present |
Jamie Lynn Spears (born April 4, 1991) is an American actress & singer-songwriter. The younger sister of international pop sensation Britney Spears, she rose to prominence for her appearances on Nickelodeon shows All That and for playing Zoey Brooks on Zoey 101.
Background
Jamie Lynn Spears was born in McComb, Mississippi to Jamie and Lynne Spears. She attended Parklane Academy, where she was a cheerleader and a member of the basketball team. She finished her education there via online correspondence and received her GED in February 2008 from Kentwood High School in Kentwood, Louisiana.
Career
2002–2008: Career beginnings and success with Zoey 101
In February 2002, Spears made her acting debut in the Paramount Pictures drama film Crossroads which starred her sister, who portrayed the central character Lucy Wagner. Spears made a cameo, playing the younger version of Britney's character. Following Crossroads, Nickelodeon cast Spears as a regular performer in the eighth season of the sketch comedy series All That. The season followed a two-year hiatus of the series. Spears portrayed various roles through the two seasons she appeared in as well as herself. Spears's performance received positive reviews from critics with many complimenting her comedic timing and being a highlight of the show. Spears did not return for the series' tenth and final season to pursue other roles on the network. Spears made a guest appearance at Stars, Stripes and Skates skating gala at Madison Square Garden in September 2002. She then took the role of the protagonist Zoey Brooks of the Nickelodeon situation comedy series Zoey 101. The series premiered in 2005 and ran four seasons, earning Jamie Lynn awards from Young Hollywood Award, Young Artist Award and Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. Jamie Lynn also recorded the theme song for the show. Other roles include a cameo as Mandy Ferner in the ABC comedy sitcom series Miss Guided (in the episode "Hot Sub") and the voice of Goldilocks in the straight to DVD film Unstable Fables: Goldilocks & 3 Bears Show from the Jim Henson Company.
Return to singing
In April 2010, Spears moved from Liberty, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennesee to work on her singing career. On November 7th, 2011, Spears gave a surprise concert at the Rutledge in Nashville. It was one of her first public appearances since her pregnancy. Spears reportedly has a country music album in production, and the concert showcased some original songs.[1] On November 25, 2013, Spears released her first single "How Could I Want More" from her upcoming debut album. The song debuted at number 29 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs, and at number 8 on the Country Digital Songs chart, for the week ending December 7, 2013. On March 15, 2016, Spears performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. She was introduced by her two older siblings, Britney and Bryan, who made surprise appearances at the show. On June 24, 2016, Spears released her second single, "Sleepover." She described the song as "young, flirty and empowering". Spears was a presenter and a performer at Radio Disney Music Awards in April 2017.
Return to Acting/Other Projects
In July 2019, Netflix announced that Spears would be returning to acting and has been cast as a series regular in the upcoming romance drama series Sweet Magnolias, which is based on the novel series by Sherryl Woods. She played young woman called Noreen Fitzgibbons, who works as a nurse and wants to build a new life after making bad choices.
In July 2021, Worthy Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group announced her plans to release a memoir, releasing a statement saying: "Jamie Lynn's book has been in development over the past 12 months and will allow the world to hear her inspiring story in her own words, for the first time." Her memoir entitled Things I Should Have Said was released on January 18, 2022. A portion of the book sales was planned to go to mental health organization This Is My Brave. On October 19, 2021, the organization stated that they would decline the offer due to the negative reaction from the general public.
On January 4, 2023, she began competing on Fox's survival television series Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, where contestants participate in special forces training challenges at a camp removed from society.
On January 12, 2023, Spears announced that production had begun on a sequel film entitled, Zoey 102, set to premiere in 2023 on Paramount+, with original series cast members Spears, Sean Flynn, Christopher Massey, Erin Sanders, Matthew Underwood, Jack Salvatore, Jr., and Abby Wilde reprising their roles from Zoey 101. Production began in January 2023 in North Carolina. Nancy Hower is currently attached to direct, with Spears attached as executive producer
Personal life
On December 20, 2007, in an interview with OK! magazine, Jamie Lynn announced that she was pregnant by her boyfriend Casey Aldridge. Nickelodeon issued a statement shortly after the announcement stating that the network respected Jamie Lynn's decision to take responsibility and noting that its primary concern was for her well-being. In May 2008, Jamie Lynn and Casey moved back to Liberty, Mississippi and purchased a house, as Jamie Lynn stated they would raise their child there. Jamie Lynn gave birth to their daughter, Maddie Briann Aldridge, on June 19, 2008 at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center in McComb, Mississippi. OK! magazine reportedly paid $1 million for the first baby pictures for their July 10, 2008 issue. Jamie Lynn and Casey called off their engagement in March 2009, although the couple continued living together to raise their child. Spears moved away in February 2010, but she and Aldridge got back together in July, but broke up again in November.
Jamie Lynn subsequently began dating Jamie Watson. After two years of on-and-off dating, the couple announced their engagement in March 2013. On March 14, 2014, she married Watson in New Orleans. On April 11, 2018, Spears gave birth to her second child, a daughter named Ivey Joan Watson.
Controversy
The announcement of Jamie Lynn's pregnancy generated controversy, as the media was accused of using the story to "glamorize" teenage pregnancy. Additional controversy surfaced because Jamie Lynn was two years below the California age of consent, raising questions about her and Casey's age difference, and whether Casey could or would be charged with statutory rape (although Jamie Lynn was neither from California nor living there). It was later confirmed that Casey was just under two years older than Jamie Lynn, which meant that he could be charged only with a misdemeanor under California law, which has an exception for adults less than three years older than the minor.
Paparazzi
In June 2008, a paparazzi accused of stalking Jamie Lynn and Casey was arrested in Amite County, Mississippi after the Spears family filed a complaint, stating he wouldn't leave the couple alone. The accused, Edwin Merrino, denied this. He was released later in the day after posting a $1,096 bond.
Trivia
- Matthew Underwood gave her a pink clock as a wrap present during Zoey 101. [2]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Crossroads | Young Lucy Wagner | Cameo role |
| 2008 | Unstable Fables: Goldilocks and the 3 Bears | Goldilocks | Voice role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–2004; 2020 | All That | Various | Series regular (seasons 8–9); guest: (season 11) |
| 2005–2008 | Zoey 101 | Zoey Brooks | Lead role (65 episodes) |
| 2007 | Just Jordan | Krya | Episode: "Spelling Bees" |
| 2008 | Miss Guided | Mandy Ferner | "Hot Sub" (season 1: episode 2) |
| 2018 | Double Dare | Herself / Contestant | Episode: "Team Server vs. Team Spears" |
| 2020- present | Sweet Magnolias | Noreen Fitzgibbons | Series Regular |
Discography
- Zoey 101: Music Mix (2006)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Female TV Star | All That | Nominated |
| 2005 | Young Artist Awards | Outstanding Young Performers In A TV Series (shared with cast) | Nominated | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Breakout Performance – Female | Zoey 101 | Nominated | |
| Young Hollywood Awards | One to Watch – Female | Herself | Won | |
| 2006 | Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite TV Actress | Zoey 101 | Won |
| Young Artist Awards | Best Young Ensemble Performance In A TV Series (Comedy or Drama) (shared with cast) | Won | ||
| 2007 | Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite TV Actress | Nominated | |
| Kids' Choice Awards Germany | Favorite Actress | Won | ||
| Nickelodeon UK Kids' Choice Awards | Best TV Actress | Nominated | ||
| Young Artist Awards | Best Performance In A TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actress | Nominated | ||
| Best Young Ensemble Performance In A TV Series (Comedy or Drama) (shared with cast) | Won | |||
| 2008 | Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite TV Actress | Nominated | |
| Young Artist Awards | Best Performance In A TV Series – Leading Young Actress | Nominated | ||
| Best Young Ensemble Performance In A TV Series (shared with cast) | Nominated |
Published works
- Spears, Jamie Lynn: Things I Should Have Said, Worthy Publishing, January 18, 2022.[3]
Gallery
External links
- Official Website
Jamie Lynn Spears at the Internet Movie Database
Jamie Lynn Spears on Wikipedia- Jamie Lynn Spears on Facebook
- Jamie Lynn Spears on Twitter
- Jamie Lynn Spears on Instagram
- Jamie Lynn Spears at TV.com
- Jamie Lynn Spears at People
