Spears was born in a small town, 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.
Spears made her acting debut in the 2002 Paramount film Crossroads, which starred older sister Britney, in a cameo role as young Lucy Wagner.
Spears then signed on as a regular performer on the Nickelodeon sketch series All That. Her performance was positively received by critics and she stayed on for the last three seasons of the series from 2002 to 2004.
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 Spears awards from Young Hollywood Award, Young Artist Award and Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. Spears 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.
On December 20, 2007, in an interview with OK! magazine, Spears announced that she was pregnant by her boyfriend, Casey Aldridge. Nickelodeon issued a statement shortly after the announcement stating that the network respected Spears's decision to take responsibility and noting that its primary concern was for her well-being. Spears confirmed the couple's engagement in March 2008 after it was reported she was seen with a wedding ring. In May 2008, Spears and Aldridge moved back to Liberty, Mississippi, and purchased a house, with Spears stating they would raise their child there.
The announcement of Spears's pregnancy generated controversy, as the media was accused of using the story to "glamorize" teenage pregnancy.
Additional controversy surfaced because Spears was two years below the California age of consent, raising questions about her and Aldridge's age difference, and whether Aldridge could or would be charged with statutory rape (although Spears was neither from California nor living there). It was later confirmed that Aldridge was just under two years older than Spears, which meant that he could be charged only with a misdemeanor under California law, which has an exception for adults fewer than three years older than the minor.
On June 4, 2008, while in Amite County, Mississippi, the Spears family filed a complaint against Edwin Merrino, a paparazzo who they believed was following and stalking the couple. Merrino denied the allegation. He was released later in the day after posting a $1096 bond.
Spears gave birth to their daughter, Maddie Briann Aldridge, on June 19, 2008, at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center in McComb. OK! magazine reportedly paid one million dollars for the first baby pictures for their July 10, 2008 issue. In September 2008, following the announcement that Bristol Palin was pregnant, it was reported that Spears had sent her burp cloths as a gift. Comparisons between the two cases were made.
Spears and Aldridge called off their engagement in March 2009, and Spears ended the relationship and moved out in February 2010. Spears and Aldridge reconciled in August 2010. In August 2010, it was rumored Spears was working on a country album in Nashville but Spears does not have a record deal.
Shotgun Wedding
Jamie Lynn Spears Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Told me he loved me and it just felt right
Didn't take more than a couple of weeks
I got the news in the ladies room at the BP
A little pink plus and there wasn't no guessing
We're gonna have us a shotgun wedding
It aint 'cause momma didn't raise me right
Two bored kids on a friday night
Got to kissing in the dark in a parking lot
Calling up family and we're making plans
Giving me a hand me down wedding band
Ready or not, daddy's gonna give his blessing On a shotgun wedding
My white dress may be off a shade
But still gonna be my perfect day
With all of the rednecks outta the room
There might even be a shotgun or two
The backyard's gonna be the perfect setting
We're gonna have us a shotgun wedding
It aint 'cause momma didnt raise me right
It aint 'cause daddy didn't try try try
Two bored kids on a friday night
Got to kissing in the dark in a parking lot
Calling up family and we're making plans
Giving me a hand me down wedding band
Ready or not, daddy's gonna give his blessing
On a shotgun wedding
I ain't tryin' to say it's right
'cause you can make a lotta plans but you can't plan life
It aint 'cause momma didnt raise me right
It aint 'cause daddy didn't try try try
Two bored kids on a friday night
Got to kissing in the dark in a parking lot
Calling up family and we're making plans
Giving me a hand me down wedding band
Ready or not, daddy's gonna give his blessing
On a shotgun, on a shotgun, on a shotgun wedding
Yeah, on a shutgun wedding
"Shotgun Wedding" by Jamie Lynn Spears is a rather straightforward song about two young lovers who end up pregnant after only a few weeks of being together, leading to a "shotgun wedding." In the opening lines, Spears reminisces about the night that led to the pregnancy - a Friday night where her lover professed his feelings for her and, despite the brevity of their relationship, it just felt right. Shortly after, she discovers the news in a ladies' room at a BP gas station through a pregnancy test. The quickly organized wedding is not due to a lack of values or upbringing but rather the unpredictability of life - sometimes you can't always plan for what happens.
The song has a somewhat ironic tone, with lyrics such as "my white dress may be off a shade, but still gonna be my perfect day" and the suggestion of guns being present at the wedding. While shotgun weddings are often portrayed as less-than-ideal situations, Spears embraces it as her "perfect day" and even jokes about the possibility of firearms. However, the final line, "I ain't tryin' to say it's right, 'cause you can make a lotta plans but you can't plan life," suggests a sense of uncertainty and perhaps even regret about the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Wasn't nothing but a Friday night
The events that lead to the shotgun wedding occurred on a casual Friday night.
Told me he loved me and it just felt right
He professed his love to me and I felt it was genuine.
Didn't take more than a couple of weeks
The time between getting to know each other and finding out that I was pregnant was very short.
I got the news in the ladies room at the BP
I discovered I was pregnant while in the restroom of a BP gas station.
A little pink plus and there wasn't no guessing
The pregnancy test came out positive, leaving no room for doubt.
We're gonna have us a shotgun wedding
Due to the situation, our wedding will be a shotgun wedding.
It aint 'cause momma didn't raise me right
My upbringing was not the reason for my current predicament.
It aint 'cause daddy didn't try try try
My father's efforts to instill the right values in me were not in vain.
Two bored kids on a friday night
My partner and I were two young people with nothing to do on a casual Friday night.
Got to kissing in the dark in a parking lot
We engaged in intimacy in the dim-lit parking lot.
Calling up family and we're making plans
We communicated with relatives and made arrangements for the impending nuptials.
Giving me a hand me down wedding band
Instead of an expensive wedding ring, I got a used ring from my intended spouse.
Ready or not, daddy's gonna give his blessing
Whether prepared or not, my father will bless our union.
My white dress may be off a shade
Although my dress may not be the perfect white, I will still have a special day.
But still gonna be my perfect day
My wedding day will still be perfect despite the circumstances.
With all of the rednecks outta the room
As for the guests, only our closest family and friends will be in attendance.
There might even be a shotgun or two
In line with tradition, there might be others with shotguns present at the wedding.
The backyard's gonna be the perfect setting
The wedding will take place in a suitable backyard setting.
I ain't tryin' to say it's right
I am not claiming that our actions are right or justified.
'cause you can make a lotta plans but you can't plan life
Although you can plan a lot of things, life does not always go as planned.
On a shotgun, on a shotgun, on a shotgun wedding
Emphasizing again that the wedding will be a shotgun wedding, despite any negative connotations associated with the term.
Yeah, on a shutgun wedding
Reiterating the fact that the wedding will be a shotgun wedding.
Contributed by Caden R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tyler Garnier
Why is this girl not on country radio
spooky boi
Seriously
Sami McClellan
Right!! She needs to be heard
Madison Thorne
Tag Garnier don’t know but she should be
grace m
i love this song and the entire EP, she was very open and honest. Im so proud of my girl, ive been her fan for ten years now. love love her.
Beanieboos
@Veeeegan95 yep lol 😂
Zk873
@Veeeegan95 it did not
Veeeegan95
This didn't age well. 🤣
Brittany Giron
This song should be her second single!!! I love it!!! #ShotgunWedding
Tony M
Jamie has a great country music voice 👌