Maddie Watson, the daughter of Jamie Lynn Spears and niece of Britney Spears, is continuing the family stardom but not necessarily on the screen or in the studio. Rather, Watson recently signed a national letter of intent to play softball at Southern Miss.
Watson, currently a senior at Oak Forest Academy in Amite City, La., first committed to the Golden Eagles in November 2024. She announced her official signing Nov. 13 on Instagram.
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According to MaxPreps, Watson has a career .306 mark from the plate with 22 hits and 16 RBI. She’s stolen 17 bases and has a .917 fielding percentage for the Lady Jackets, which compete mostly against Mississippi teams as a member of the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools. She missed her entire senior season due to injury, as reported by Sports Illustrated.
While Watson is an impressive player on the diamond, her Hollywood genes are often on display through her YouTube channel that gives viewers a glimpse into her life as a student-athlete.
Watson’s mother, Jamie Lynn, is best known for being a Nickelodeon star in the early 2000s as the lead on “Zoey 101.” Her aunt, Britney, is often referred to as the “Princess of Pop” and is one of the bests-selling music artists in history with over 150 million records purchased worldwide. Both Britney and Jamie Lynn grew up in Mississippi and attended Parklane Academy in McComb.
In a news release, in which Southern Miss head coach Natalie Poole, announced an incoming class of seven players, Poole touted Watson and one of her fellow commitments for what they will bring to the outfield.
“Maddie Watson and Emily Williams will be excellent outfield contributors to the team,” Poole said. “We’ve got some really good power at the plate in this group and look forward to that added piece. These young women excel athletically and academically. We are so happy to make things official.”
The Golden Eagles begin the 2026 campaign on Feb. 10 at Mississippi State after going 23-29 a season ago. Watson and the rest of her class – which includes Williams, Mackenzie Tucker, Halle Bennett, Anna Sawyer, Elizabeth “Bet” Pullen, and Kaylee McDonald – will start team activities next offseason and be added to the 2027 roster.