Jamie Lynn Spears’ Age When She Got Pregnant and What She Thinks About It 16 Years Later

Back in 2008, Jamie Lynn Spears shocked everyone with big news. Britney Spears’ little sister and Zoey 101 queen, who was just a teenager at the time, announced she was pregnant. People were surprised, some were judgmental, and the media wouldn’t stop talking about it.

Fast forward more than a decade, and Spears’ daughter is all grown up and thriving, and her mama couldn’t be happier. Let’s take a closer look at her story.

Jamie Lynn Spears Was Only 16 When She Got Pregnant

At the height of her career on Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101, Jamie Lynn Spears made a surprising announcement—she was expecting her first child with her then-boyfriend Casey Aldridge. Spears was just 16 years old, and Aldridge was 19.

Suddenly, the spotlight wasn’t just on her acting career but on her personal life. In a 2020 interview with Nylon, the actress shared how she felt upon discovering her pregnancy:

I am mortified to have to tell my parents this and my family this. I do not care what TMZ thinks about it. That was all I was thinking about: ‘These are the people I love that I have to tell, and also, I’m pregnant. There’s a human being growing inside of me, and I’m so young, I’m almost a baby myself.’

At that moment, she decided to leave Hollywood and focus on her new reality as a young mom. Spears moved to Mississippi to escape the media chaos. Even though she tried to keep a low profile, paparazzi still found her.

But the star focused on preparing for motherhood and stayed away from the public eye. On June 19, 2008, she welcomed her daughter Maddie Briann Aldridge with her family by her side.

Spears reflected on that time, saying it was a difficult but necessary decision to leave acting. She wanted to prioritize her baby and give her the best start possible, even if it meant stepping away from fame.

What Jamie Lynn Spears Thinks About Her Daughter Now

Fast forward to today, Jamie Lynn Spears couldn’t be prouder of Maddie, who is now 16 years old. Recently, Maddie made a big announcement: she’s going to play Division 1 softball at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Mama Spears shared her excitement on Instagram, saying it felt like “just yesterday” when she faced public judgment for deciding to have Maddie. She wrote:

I can remember it like it was just yesterday, as the whole world watched and judged as I made the choice to have my baby at 16 years old, fast fwd to today, and that same little baby girl is now 16 years old herself announcing that she will be going to play D1 ball for an amazing college.

The 33-year-old also reflected on her own journey, saying she worked hard to “break generational curses” so Maddie could grow up with better opportunities. It hasn’t always been an easy road. Maddie survived a near-fatal ATV accident in 2017, a moment that Spears called “impossible” to get through.

But Maddie’s resilience and faith carried her forward. Spears’ post was filled with heartfelt words about how far they’ve both come. “I couldn’t be more proud of her,” she added, sharing photos of Maddie from her childhood to now, including visits to her future college.

How Many Kids Does Jamie Lynn Spears Have Now?

Today, Jamie Lynn Spears is a mom of two daughters. After Maddie, she welcomed her second child, Ivey Joan Watson, in 2018. She shares Ivey with her husband, Jamie Watson, whom she married in 2014.

The couple tied the knot in a beautiful New Orleans wedding, and four years later, they celebrated the birth of Ivey. Her middle name, Joan, honors Spears’ late aunt, Sandra, who passed away from cancer. The Journey singer described Ivey’s arrival as a “peaceful experience,” much different from her first pregnancy as a teen (as she told PEOPLE).

Maddie, who was 10 years old when Ivey was born, was thrilled to become a big sister. Spears said watching her daughters bond was one of the most joyful moments of her life. She added that Ivey brought a sense of completion and happiness to their family.