Baxter Neal Helson is a drummer who became known because of his early link to the Cyrus family. He was the first husband of Leticia “Tish” Finley, who later married country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. With Tish, Baxter is the biological father of Brandi and Trace. After Tish married Billy Ray, both children were adopted into the Cyrus family and took the Cyrus surname. Even with this well-known family link, Baxter has stayed out of the public eye and lives a quiet life.
Personl Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Baxter Neal Helson |
| Known for | First husband of Tish Cyrus and biological father of Brandi Cyrus and Trace Cyrus |
| Profession | Drummer |
| Marriage | Married Tish (Leticia “Tish” Finley) from 1986 to 1989 |
| Children | Brandi Cyrus and Trace Cyrus |
| Public profile | Very private. Few confirmed facts are public. |
Early years and music
Public records about Baxter’s early life are limited. What is clear is that he worked as a drummer and was active before and during his marriage to Tish. Media reports simply call him a drummer and do not give many details about the bands he played in. This is common for local or regional musicians who are not seeking the spotlight. Because reliable sources do not publish his birth date or early family background, this article does not guess or repeat rumors.
Marriage to Tish Finley
Tish Finley married Baxter in the late 1980s. Their relationship ended before Tish met Billy Ray Cyrus. These dates help set the timeline for the birth of their two children and later changes in the family.
Their two children: Brandi and Trace
The couple welcomed two children. The first is Brandi, born on May 26, 1987, in Nashville, Tennessee. Baxter is her biological father. Years later, after Tish married Billy Ray Cyrus, Brandi was adopted and became part of the larger Cyrus family that many fans know today.
Their second child is Trace, born on February 24, 1989. Trace was born with the name Neil Timothy Helson. After Tish married Billy Ray, Trace was adopted when he was still very young and became known as Trace Dempsey Cyrus. Today, many people know Trace as a musician in his own right. These adoption facts help explain why early records use the Helson name while later records use the Cyrus name.
Adoption and the growing Cyrus family
Tish married Billy Ray Cyrus on December 28, 1993. After the wedding, Billy Ray legally adopted Tish’s two older children. This is why Brandi and Trace share the Cyrus surname with their siblings Miley, Braison, and Noah. The adoption helped bring the children under one family name as the new household formed.
Co-parenting and custody
Public court records show that after the separation, the parents worked through custody and visitation rules in court. In 1992, the Circuit Court of Boyd County, Kentucky, entered an agreed order giving primary custody of one of the children to the mother and setting visitation for the father. This was part of the normal legal process to protect the child’s best interests after a breakup.
Later, in 1998, a Tennessee appeals court reviewed an order related to weekly phone calls between the child and Baxter. The court’s opinion shows how the judge clarified when and how those calls should take place so the child could keep contact with the father. These records do not focus on celebrity news. They are routine family-law documents that show the parents and courts were trying to manage contact and communication during and after difficult times.
Baxter’s public profile
Unlike many members of the Cyrus family, Baxter has not built a public brand. He does not give interviews and seems to avoid social media. Reliable outlets describe him briefly as a drummer and as Tish’s first husband. Because of this low profile, many details that appear on gossip sites about his age, current home, or net worth are not confirmed. When a detail cannot be checked in a dependable source, it is better to say “not publicly confirmed” than to repeat a claim.
How he is connected to famous names
The strongest connection is the most simple. He is the biological father of Brandi and Trace, who both grew up to work in entertainment. Brandi is a TV host, DJ, and podcaster. Trace is a musician and has played in bands that found national attention. The public often finds Baxter’s name when reading histories of the Cyrus family. This is natural because family timelines show who the parents are and how adoptions changed surnames.
What we can learn from the record
There are only a few firm points that good sources support. He was a drummer. He married Tish in the late 1980s. He is the biological father of Brandi and Trace. The children were adopted by Billy Ray after he married Tish in 1993. Courts helped the parents handle custody and calls with the children in the 1990s. These points form a clear and respectful picture without guessing the rest.
Why reliable sourcing matters here
Many web pages repeat the same unsourced lines about Baxter. Some list a birth date, a city, or a net worth, but they do not link to firm records. In a case like this, it is better to rely on court documents, established outlets, and well-maintained reference pages that cite their sources. This protects readers from confusion and keeps the story fair to a private person.
Frequently asked questions
1) Who is Baxter Neal Helson?
He is a drummer who was married to Leticia “Tish” Finley before she married Billy Ray Cyrus. He is the biological father of Brandi and Trace Cyrus.
2) What years was he married to Tish?
Their marriage lasted from 1986 to 1989.
3) Which children does he share with Tish?
Two children, Brandi and Trace. Both were later adopted by Billy Ray Cyrus after he married Tish.
4) What was Trace’s birth name?
Trace was born as Neil Timothy Helson. After adoption, he became Trace Dempsey Cyrus.
5) When did Billy Ray adopt Brandi and Trace?
After Billy Ray and Tish married on December 28, 1993, he adopted Tish’s two older children.
6) Was there a custody case?
Yes. A 1992 Kentucky order gave primary custody to the mother and set visitation for the father. A 1998 Tennessee case clarified weekly phone calls.
7) What does Baxter do now?
He keeps a very private life. Reliable sources do not report his current work or home.
8) What is his date of birth and where was he born?
These details are not confirmed by trusted sources. Many sites guess, but they do not show solid proof.
9) Is he related to Miley Cyrus?
He is not Miley’s father. His connection to Miley is through Tish and their two older children, Brandi and Trace.
10) Why is there so little information about him?
Because he is a private person and not a public figure by profession. Most accurate details come from family timelines and court records, not from interviews or media tours.
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