James Parnell Spears

James Parnell Spears (born June 6, 1952) is a retired construction business owner. He is the father of Bryan Spears, Britney Spears, and Jamie Lynn Spears. Life and career James Parnell Spears was born to June Austin Spears (1930–2012), and Emma Jean Spears (née Forbes; 1934–1966). When he was 13, his mother committed suicide on the grave of her infant son following a miscarriage. He also survived a car accident that killed a football teammate aged 17. His upbringing was difficult, as his daughter Jamie Lynn wrote in her memoir: "My father was raised by an abusive father who made unreasonable demands of his son in all aspects of his life. Daddy was forced to practice sports for hours at a time—past the point of exhaustion. For basketball, Paw-Paw June made Daddy shoot one hundred shots after practice. Daddy loved basketball, but his father made him abandon the court for the football field. He followed his father’s directive to play college football, knowing all along he would have been much more impactful as a basketball player." Spears' first wife was Debbie Sanders Cross, who remains his friend. In the mid-1970s, Spears worked as a welder and boilermaker. In July 1976, he married his second wife, Lynne Irene Bridges. She filed for divorce in 1980, requesting a temporary restraining order, fearing that he would "become angry when he is served with these papers" and harass or harm her, "especially if he has been drinking alcoholic beverages, as he has done in the past." However, they reconciled, and Britney was born the following year. In the 1980s, Spears ran a successful construction business, and he and Lynne decided to build and own a health and wellness spa. He became well-known for developing businesses, including the first gym in their area in Louisiana. He also owned a seafood restaurant called Granny’s, which he eventually gave to his son Bryan, who has since sold the restaurant. Jamie and Lynne Spears divorced in May 2002 and reconciled without remarrying around 2010. They were seen still united in 2014, but were evidently completely separated by 2020. They have three children: son Bryan Spears (born 1977) and daughters Britney Spears (born 1981) and Jamie Lynn Spears (born 1991). They also have five grandchildren.