Jamie Lynn Spears is best known for her starring role on Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101, as well as being the sister of the iconic Britney Spears, of course. But did she go to college?
Jamie Lynn Spears did not go to college. Spears stopped attending highschool when she began filming Zoey 101, but she received her GED (highschool diploma) via online means. Spears did not partake in any further formal education.
Let’s take a look at the interesting life and career of the youngest Spears sibling.
The Early Life of Jamie Lynn Spears
Jamie Lynn was born in McComb, Mississippi on April 4, 1991, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana to parents James and Lynne Spears. She has two older siblings—Bryan and Britney.
Jamie Lynn went to Parklane Academy, and was part of the cheerleading squad and point guard of the basketball team.
Acting
In 2002, she made her acting debut in Crossroads, portraying the younger version of Britney Spears’ character, who had the leading role.
In the same year, Nickelodeon cast Jamie Lynn as a recurring performer in the sketch show All That. Jamie Lynn’s performance received largely positive feedback from critics who admired her comedic timing and regarded her as the star of the show.
Watch Jamie Lynn in All That with a guest appearance from the one and only Britney:
Jamie Lynn began filming for the Nickelodeon series Zoey 101 in 2004. The teen sitcom followed the title character at a co-ed boarding school, the theme song for which was written by Britney and sung by Jamie Lynn. Listen in this video:
The show’s premiere was the most watched Nickelodeon premiere in over eight years. Jamie Lynn won a Young Artist Award and a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for her performance.
Jamie Lynn left highschool and lived in California during the filming of Zoey 101 but studied with tutors and received her diploma in February of 2008.
After four seasons, Nickelodeon announced that the show was coming to an end. The final episode aired on May 2, 2008.
16 and Pregnant
In December of 2008, Jamie Lynn announced that she was pregnant. Only 16 years old at the time, the Nickelodeon star is reported to have met the father, Casey Aldridge, at church.
Shortly after the announcement, Nickelodeon issued a statement on the matter:
We respect Jamie Lynn’s decision to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation. We know this is a very difficult time for her and her family, and our primary concern right now is for Jamie Lynn’s well being.
Jamie Lynn gave birth to Maddie Briann Aldridge on June 19, 2008.
Music Career
Following in her sister’s footsteps, Jamie Lynn began working on a country music album in 2010 and performed a set of original songs at a Nashville concert in 2011.
In 2014, Jamie Lynn released her debut single “How Could I Want More.” The track had moderate success, debuting at number 29 on the Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart—it’s highest position.
Later that year, Jamie Lynn released an EP titled The Journey, which again achieved moderate success, peaking at number 5 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums, and at number 24 on Top Country Albums.
Back to Acting
In July 2019, Netflix announced that Jamie Lynn had been cast in Sweet Magnolias—a romantic drama based on the novel series by Sherryl Woods. Her character—Noreen Fitzgibbons—is a nurse who wishes to build a new life after making bad choices.
In November of 2019, Teen Vogue reported that Jamie Lynn will join the cast of a new Nickelodeon series which unites the two shows All That and Zoey 101.
In July 2020, Nickelodeon released an episode of All That, in which Jamie Lynn reprised her roll of Thelma Stump—an old grumpy security guard.