Jamie Lynn Spears Has Gone Country... And, She's Darn Good At It

I had the pleasure of speaking on the phone yesterday with Jamie Lynn Spears. She was gracious enough to answer a variety of questions from all walks of her life. She talked about what it was like growing up during Britney Spears' early career as well as about her family, fiance and of course, her new career in country music.

Jamie Lynn Spears Has Gone Country... And She's Darn Good At It

thecountrysite.com / Via TheCountrySite.com

Jamie Lynn Spears was gracious enough to answer a variety of questions from all walks of her life. She talked about what it was like growing up during Britney Spears' early career as well as about her family, fiance and of course, her new career in country music.

Jamie Lynn Spears Has Gone Country

Jamie Lynn's new single How Could I Want More was digitally released on November 26, 2013.

As of this interview, the music video for How Could I Want More has achieved over 1,600,000 views on VEVO. The song was named a Taste of Country Critic's Pick and her journey has been covered by such outlets as E!, Entertainment Tonight, Buzzfeed, MTV, CMT and more.

It peaked at #4 on iTunes Country Charts and #29 on the Billboard Hot Country charts. Jamie Lynn was gracious enough to answer a variety of questions from all walks of her life.

Enjoy the interview!

What was it like growing up as a child when Britney's career was first getting started?

You know, you don't really understand what's going on when you're that young. I just thought it was so cool my sister was singing and when she went on her first world tour, and she took me on the road with her, it was the first time I realized that, 'Wow', my sister is a big deal!

And, I look back and some of my fondest memories as a child are traveling to all these different places with my sister, and she really made it fun for me. I just look back on it as a different childhood, but I was really blessed to be able to do that.

Obviously, you were around a lot of talented entertainers and singers from a very early age, who are your musical influences?

Well, the thing is, when I first came to Nashville and started writing, I think that was the biggest thing for me was finding out who I was as an artist. I didn't really try to emulate anyone else. It was more about getting in there and writing and seeing what came out. And, it was country, but it wasn't something I thought, 'Okay, I want to do country music, and I want to be like this person.' It was just a really organic thing. It took me five years to finally figure out a sound that I'm really confident with.

But, I love all the country greats of course, and one of my first writes was with Pam Tillis. Her voice is unreal, and I love her. There's obviously so many artists I love. I love Little Big Town. I love Holly Williams. They're all great artists.

Was 'How Could I Want More' written about or for your fiancé Jamie Watson?

Yes. It was. I wrote that song when I was in a very vulnerable place. It was a few years back when I wrote it, and he (Jamie Watson) and I were going through a transition stage, and I had just moved to Nashville. I was focusing on work and being a mom, and I was in this place of how could I want more, but there was still a lot going on at the same time. So, that song came from a very personal and vulnerable place in my life, and every time I sing it, it digs up that emotion.

Who is the guitar player in your video for 'How Could I Want More'?

That is actually my producer (Corey Crowder). We're just keeping it all right here in our little group.

Was the concept for the video your idea?

Yea, I kind of designed it to be really organic. The song really needed to stand out. It just needed to be me connecting with the song, and people really seeing that emotion. That was the most important thing.

Has social media influenced your career?

Yes! It's been a huge part because I didn't go the traditional route with a label and doing different promotional things. I really left it to connecting with my fans and pushing it through social media. So, without it, I don't think the song would of had the success or reached as many fans as it has without that platform to work off of.

Speaking of fans, how have your Zoey 101 fans responded to your country music career?

The response has been great because I think any time you're honest and doing something you love, people have to acknowledge that, and I really believe that no matter what, honesty transcends any genre. They connect with the song just like a hardcore country fan would. I think that the emotion and honesty is there, therefore all my fans from all walks of life have connected with the song.

Is your album coming out soon?

Yea, I'm working on it. We've got some songs done, but we're still picking out what we want to add and different pieces. It's definitely in the works.

You recently played at Eddie's Attic here in Decatur, GA. What was it like and did you enjoy performing in such an intimate setting?

It was awesome! I cried at one point. I think that being able to sit there, literally face-to-face with people, and seeing their reactions to the songs is the best thing I can do right now. Because all my music is new, and I need to see how fans are responding to it.

It's great to see what they like and don't like and taking that personal time to really talk to them and share who I am as an artist in an intimate setting is really important, and I really enjoyed it.

Can you talk about your collaboration with your sister Britney Spears? And, what was her response to your first single?

I think that collaborating with my sister was a really natural thing. It wasn't like we thought up some scheme like do this or do that together. It was really because she'd heard some of my stuff and she loved it, and she was like, 'why don't you get in here and sing something with me' and it was really a fun thing for us sisters to do because it's something we'd never done before.

And, she loves my single. Of course, she knows me well and knows how emotionally connected I am (to the song), and she was just so proud of me. We're from two different genres, but obviously, we appreciate each others work.

What does Maddie (Jamie Lynn's daughter) think of your new country music career?

You know, I don't think it's really affected her yet. Every now and then, someone will give me a compliment on one of my songs, and she just seems really proud. I'm kind of shy, but she likes attention, so she probably loves it!

I have a lab and golden retriever. Didn't I read where you have some labs yourself?

I have a chocolate lab. My daughter named him Nice. Yep, that's his name. N-I-C-E… (Nice Spears actually has his own Twitter account at @NiceSpears)

Tell us something about yourself that not many people know, but you wish they did.

I think I've made this clear in other ways, but I really don't think people understand that I'm really this smothering mom. Maddie comes first above anything else.

And, I'm most confident in life when I'm just being a mother… Doing Mom things. That's ultimately what I want – A big house full of kids.

If you haven't checked out Jamie Lynn's new video for How Could I Want More, you can watch it as well as a playlist of clips from her recent Eddie's Attic concert at TheCountrySite.com.