Jamie Lynn Spears exclusively tells Page Six that she feels “so grateful” to have gained a new family while filming Fox’s upcoming reality series, “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.”
“Everyone felt like family after this. You’re instantly bonded when you walk on that first day,” the 31-year-old sister of pop icon Britney Spears tells us ahead of the premiere.
“They just rip off the Band-Aid and you have no choice but to bond,” she continues.
“I would not have been able to get through [this] without the support of all these amazing new people in my life.”
Jamie Lynn traveled to the deserts of Jordan with “Jon & Kate Plus 8” alum Kate Gosselin, “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Kenya Moore, Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy and Melanie “Mel B” Brown of the Spice Girls, among other notable names.
There, the group participated in a series of grueling challenges — taken straight from the U.S. military’s playbook that aids in its Special Forces selection process.
While she enjoyed getting to know all 16 participants, Jamie Lynn says she formed a particularly tight bond with fellow former child star-turned-proud mom Beverley Mitchell.
The “7th Heaven” actress, 41, tells Page Six that she is “really thankful” that she and Jamie Lynn were able to cheer each other on as they pushed themselves physically, mentally and emotionally.
“I think we have so much in common and I also think it was so natural,” Mitchell says of her friendship with the “Zoey 101” alum.
“Honestly, I couldn’t have gotten through this experience without Jamie Lynn in the back of those cars, like, making me laugh.”
Jamie Lynn notes that the car rides to and from the military challenges were “maybe the best part” of the 10-day production.
“Those were the times when we knew we weren’t going to be thrown out of helicopters or something, so it was like a little bit of safety,” the “Sweet Magnolias” actress explains.
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“We were kind of able to feel like we were back in the normal world for a second. We were able to let out our guard down a little bit. That was our comfort zone.”
Forming meaningful relationships with others was most likely a reprieve for Jamie Lynn after navigating complicated dynamics within her real family this year.
The “Things I Should Have Said” author’s older sister, Britney, recently shocked fans by praising her “inspiring,” albeit estranged, sibling — and then telling her to have “self-worth” — amid their ongoing feud.
“It’s my b-day but you’re my heart so I’m thinking about you …,” the superstar, 41, wrote in a since-deleted Instagram caption.
She continued, “Congratulations on being so brave, inspiring, and showing guts and glory in your show !!!. You ain’t alone … if anybody knows what that feels like … I get it. My baby sister !!! I love you !!!”
Britney later followed up by urging Jamie Lynn “to feel self-worth being my sister !!!” The “Toxic” singer elaborated, “Just look UP sweetheart … remember IT’S NOT WHAT YOU SEE, IT’S WHAT’S IN YOUR HANDS !!!”
Though she was first introduced to the public as Britney’s little sister, Jamie Lynn tells Page Six she used the “super transformative” adventure of filming “Special Forces” to help her discover who she is on her own.
“The show did help me discover more of who I am as an individual, and realize my self-identity,” says Jamie Lynn, who is also a wife to husband Jamie Watson and a devoted mother to daughters Maddie, 14, and Ivey, 4.
As previously reported, after Britney was released from her controversial, nearly 14-year conservatorship, she accused Jamie Lynn of being complicit in its continuation.
The restrictive legal arrangement, which controlled Britney’s medical, personal and financial affairs, was established in 2008 by the ladies’ father, Jamie Spears, who is estranged from his eldest daughter.
Jamie Lynn has claimed that she once provided Britney with “contacts” who could have helped end the conservatorship, but alleged that the Grammy winner refused her help.
With attorney Mathew Rosengart by her side, though, Britney’s conservatorship was finally terminated in November 2021.
Britney has said in the past that she would like to “sue [her] family” for their roles in her conservatorship, sparing neither brother Bryan nor mom Lynne Spears — the latter of whom Britney has accused of giving Jamie Spears, 70, the idea for the conservatorship alongside former business manager Lou Taylor.
Britney has also asserted that she wants her father charged with “conservatorship abuse” and sent to jail.
“Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” premieres Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.