Early life and career
Spears was born in McComb, Mississippi to James 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 Seasons 8 & 9 of the series from 2002 through 2004. She left after Season 9 to work on her then, new series, Zoey 101.
2005–08: Zoey 101 and pregnancy
In 2005, Spears played 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.[6] Spears also recorded the theme song for the show, which was co-written by her sister, Britney Spears. 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. Some teens were disappointed with the contrast between Spears's on screen persona as a "good girl" and her real life 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, since the crime is only charged as a felony if the two people having sex are at least three years apart in age.
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 clothes as a gift. Comparisons between the two cases were made.
2009–present
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, but ended their relationship a second time in November 2010.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Crossroads Young Lucy Wagner Cameo role
2002–04 All That Herself Series regular
2005–08 Zoey 101 Zoey Brooks Lead role
2008 Unstable Fables: Goldilocks and the 3 Bears Goldilocks Voice role
Miss Guided Mandy Ferner Episode: "Hot Sub"
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