Celebrity of the Year Finalist #4: Jamie Lynn Spears

As 2008 winds down, it's time to reflect upon those - from household names to relative unknowns, from A- to D-list - who made this year so memorable.

The Hollywood Gossip is unveiling 10 finalists for its 2nd Annual Celebrity of the Year award. They've given us their best, their worst, even their nude pictures in some cases. Now it is time for us to give something back with this moving tribute.

We previously profiled the incomparable cast of High School Musical. Today, we present Celebrity of the Year finalist #4 … Jamie Lynn Spears!

In 2007, Britney Spears was our Celebrity of the Year in the most lopsided race ever. But under the care of papa Jamie, she's had a relatively low-key 2008. Fortunately, little sister Jamie Lynn was there to carry on the Spears train wreck tradition!

Jamie Lynn and then-unborn Maddie Briann share a moment.

Desperate to follow the lead of her sibling and start makin' babies early, Jamie Lynn one-upped Britney (and most females) by getting knocked up at age 16. The proud papa? Boyfriend Casey Aldridge, 18, who then became her fiance.

Despite being thrust into the spotlight even faster and harder than she let Casey inside her, Jamie Lynn Spears persevered, battled back, made no excuses, and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Maddie Briann Aldridge on June 19.

Since then, she's been doing well, despite rumors of a second pregnancy and of Casey railing girls all over Southern Mississippi, mom Lynne selling her out in a lame memoir, and some stalker taking pics of her breastfeeding Maddie. Creeps.

Way to go, Jamie Lynn Spears. Here's hoping your 2009 is filled with joy... and perhaps baby #2. Here's a photo tribute to her we put together. Click to enlarge the pictures - including some classic celeb gossip magazine covers!