Baxter Neal Helson: biography, Cyrus family ties, and what’s actually documented

Baxter Neal Helson is an American drummer best known as the first husband of Tish Cyrus and the biological father of Brandi and Trace (born Neil Timothy Helson). Verified Tennessee court records and family sources confirm these relationships, though many online biographical details remain unverified.

Quick Facts

• First husband of Tish Cyrus
• Biological father of Brandi and Trace (Neil Timothy) Helson
• Featured in Tennessee Court of Appeals records (1998–1999)
• Brandi and Trace were later adopted by Billy Ray Cyrus
• Reliable info exists mainly in court documents, not gossip blogs

A note before we start

Many pages about Baxter Neal Helson recycle the same unverified anecdotes. This article compiles only verifiable information drawn from public legal filings, genealogy data, and reputable reporting to clarify what is known—and what isn’t—about his life and connection to the Cyrus family.

Who is Baxter Neal Helson?

Helson is an American drummer who entered the public record through his marriage to Leticia “Tish” Cyrus in the 1980s. Together, they had two children—Brandi and Trace (born Neil Timothy Helson). His name appears in several Tennessee appellate opinions during the 1990s connected to custody and visitation disputes.

Family connections and adoption context

Helson and Tish Cyrus divorced after having Brandi and Trace.
When Tish later married Billy Ray Cyrus, he legally adopted both children, who then took his surname. Trace became known publicly as Trace Dempsey Cyrus, a musician and guitarist for Metro Station.
These relationships are consistently documented in court filings and mainstream family profiles.

What Tennessee court records show

Two key appellate cases confirm Helson’s role as the children’s father and outline a lengthy custody history:

Year	Court	Main Issue	Decision
1998	Tennessee Court of Appeals	Reversed that portion of the decree; affirmed others	Reversed that portion of decree; affirmed others
1999	Tennessee Court of Appeals	Contempt findings and modification requests	Chancellor’s rulings affirmed

The opinions reference earlier custody orders (a 1992 Kentucky case) that granted primary custody to the mother and detailed ongoing jurisdictional disputes. These documents remain the most reliable public records concerning Helson.

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Is Helson still active in music?

Outside of brief mentions as a drummer, no verified discography or band credits appear in major databases like Discogs or AllMusic. Most online claims about his performances lack citations. Until official credits or interviews surface, his professional background should be treated as unconfirmed.

What’s confirmed vs. speculative

Information	Status	Verification Source
Marriage to Tish Cyrus	Confirmed	Court records / family bios
Father of Brandi and Trace (Neil Timothy)	Confirmed	Court opinions, adoption reports
1992 custody order → 1998–99 appeals	Confirmed	Tennessee appellate records
Exact birth date / birthplace	Unconfirmed	No primary source
Career details beyond “drummer”	Unconfirmed	No verified discography

Why accuracy matters

Celebrity genealogy often gets distorted as facts travel between tabloids and social media. Using primary legal sources like Helson v. Cyrus (1998) ensures search engines—and readers—see credible, traceable data rather than speculation.

Mini example: correcting a rumor

Many blogs cite a “December 21, 1966, New York City” birth for Helson, yet no official record or interview confirms it. Meanwhile, Tennessee appellate files publicly list the same full name tied to the custody proceedings—verifiable evidence of identity and timeline.

People Also Ask

Was Baxter Neal Helson married to Tish Cyrus?

Yes. He was Tish Cyrus’s first husband and the biological father of Brandi and Trace (Neil Timothy Helson). The marriage and custody issues appear in Tennessee appellate decisions.

Is Baxter Neal Helson Trace Cyrus’s father?

Yes. Trace was born Neil Timothy Helson and later adopted by Billy Ray Cyrus, changing his surname and middle name.

What did the Tennessee appeals court decide?

The 1998 case reversed a visitation provision, while the 1999 case affirmed lower-court findings regarding contempt and jurisdiction.

Are Helson’s birth details public?

Not reliably. Dates and places repeated online have no official documentation; only family and custody details are verifiable.

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Key Takeaways

• Baxter Neal Helson’s public record revolves around family-law documents, not celebrity interviews.
• He is the biological father of Brandi and Trace Cyrus.
• Two Tennessee appellate opinions (1998 & 1999) confirm these relationships.
• Claims about his birth data or musical career remain unverified.

Sources & References (Accessed November 5, 2025)

1. Tennessee Court of Appeals. Baxter Neal Helson v. Leticia Finley Cyrus, No. 01-A-01-9707-CH-00350 (Oct 14, 1998).
   https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-appeals/opinions/1998/10/14/baxter-neal-helson-v-leticia-finley-cyrus
2. People Magazine. “Billy Ray Cyrus’ 6 Kids: All About His Sons and Daughters.” People.com (2025).
   https://people.com/parents/all-about-billy-ray-cyrus-kids/
3. Wikipedia. “Trace Cyrus,” “Brandi Cyrus,” and “Tish Cyrus” entries – family and adoption context (retrieved Nov 2025).
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trace_Cyrus
4. Wikidata. “Baxter Neal Helson (Q111681995).”
   https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111681995
5. Geneanet Family Tree. “Baxter Neal Helson – Genealogical Record (Contributor: tdowling).”
   https://gw.geneanet.org/tdowling?lang=en&n=helson&p=baxter+neal.

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