Travis Tritt's 3 Kids: All About His Sons and Daughter (and Why the Country Star Didn't Want Them to Pursue Musical Careers)

01/04/2025 09:00 AM

The "Help Me Hold On" singer is proud of his children: daughter Tyler Reese and sons Tristan and Tarian

Travis Tritt may be a Grammy-winning artist, but his biggest prize is being a dad to his kids: Tyler Reese, Tristan and Tarian.

The "Help Me Hold On" singer and his wife, Theresa Nelson, have been married since 1997 and share three children. They welcomed daughter Tyler Reese in 1998, followed by sons Tristan in 1999 and Tarian in 2003.

"Of all the jobs I've had in my lifetime, being an involved and dedicated father has been the job I'm most proud of," Travis wrote on Instagram in June 2024. "At times, it has been one of the most difficult jobs I've ever had, but also one of the most rewarding."

Travis' music talent has been passed down to Tyler Reese and Tristan, who also sing professionally. "Nothing has made me prouder than not only watching my children grow up but knowing that they want to be a part of the family business," he told PEOPLE in May 2021.

The country star added that he likes to be a resource to his kids as they navigate life and the music industry.

"I tell them to 'live your life' and 'do what makes you happy' and 'try to be a good person' and 'do the things that you know are right,' " he explained. "Everyone is going to have opinions and that's fine, but you don't have to subscribe to their opinions. Live your own life."

Here's everything to know about Travis Tritt's kids: Tyler Reese, Tristan and Tarian.

Tyler Reese Tritt, 26

Travis and Theresa welcomed their daughter Tyler Reese Tritt on Feb. 18, 1998.

Like her dad, she's a singer who discovered her love of performance when she was 3 and heard "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid, she told theChicago Tribune in April 2022.

As the years went on, Tyler Reese set her eyes on becoming a singer and with her mom's encouragement, she performed Carrie Underwood's "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore" for Travis at age 12.

"At first, I was scared," she recalled. "My dad, he doesn't care if you're family. He's going to tell you if you're flat or if you're sharp or if you're pitchy or if you suck. He's going to be honest with you and he's not going to sugarcoat anything."

Afterward, Travis told Theresa that their daughter "got it," and it was the start of their work together.

The young singer first collaborated with Travis when she was 14 and recorded the duet "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough," originally performed by Don Henley and Patty Smyth. She loved the experience so much that she decided to become a country singer herself, she wrote on her website. 

Her dad wasn't always on board with the idea, though, Tyler Reese told RFD TV in June 2024. In fact, Travis tried to dissuade her from entering the music business, emphasizing how hard of a career she was about to embark on — but Tyler Reese put her foot down. "Finally was just like, 'I hate to break it to you, but I ain't giving this up," she said.

With that, Travis got on board but explained to her that while she could ask him for advice, she'd have to get started on her own by building her fan base, and Tyler Reese agreed.

"I didn't want to just come in and ride his coattails," she told the outlet. "I am my own person and my own voice, and I want to make my own name."

Around this time, the "Can I Trust You with My Heart" crooner offered his eldest child words of wisdom: to find her own voice. The advice eventually clicked for her, and Travis has seen her grow as a vocalist since. "Tyler is a tremendously gifted singer," he told PEOPLE in May 2021.

While Tyler Reese said she has "big shoes to fill" in the industry, she never saw her father as a rockstar. "I never really looked at him as a superstar or a celebrity. It was always like, 'This is my goofball dad,' " she told the Chicago Tribune.

In 2017, she released her first single, "Perfect," followed by "Texas Hold Him" and "Porch Light." Today, Tyler Reese shares videos of herself singing on Instagram, along with behind-the-scenes snaps from her tours. She has opened for Sheryl Crow, her father, Travis and Runaway June.

Tristan Tritt, 25

Travis and Theresa welcomed their son Tristian Tritt on June 16, 1999.

He has also followed in his father's footsteps in the music industry, but with a key difference: Tristan performs rock music and what he calls "Y'allternative," per his Instagram.

"Tristan is coming into his own too. I'm amazed by his talent and his tremendous amount of drive and motivation," Travis told PEOPLE in May 2021 of his son's career. "If he isn't writing, he's rehearsing or he's producing or he's handling his own bookings. It's just great to watch and see this stuff happening."

Tristan's musical influences include Motörhead, Ozzy Osbourne and Stone Temple Pilots, according to his website. He occasionally dips into his country roots, though — even singing classics from his dad.

In June 2024, Tristan posted a video of himself performing his father's song "Best of Intentions" while Travis sat beside him. "Your harshest critic is always yourself... and this man 😂," he captioned the video.

Tristian revealed on his website that he learned to play the guitar at a young age through lessons from his dad, and it seems Travis still offers pointers. In the clip, he provided feedback for his son, telling him to slow down and not rush the tune.

Tristan released his first EP WHAT ARE WE DOING?in August 2024. "I couldn't be more thankful and excited to see over a year of hard work come to fruition," he wrote on Instagram. "This entire project has been a huge labor of love and I cannot wait to continue down the wild and crazy world of music."

The aspiring artist thanked his fans for their support in a November 2024 Instagram post, sharing he was "terrified" to post his first-ever singing video on social media back when he was a teenager. Even though it continues to be an intimating experience, Tristian feels encouraged by his followers rallying behind him.

Tarian Tritt, 21

Travis and Theresa welcomed their son Tarian Tritt on Nov. 20, 2003.

Unlike his siblings, Tarian tends to stay out of the spotlight. The youngest Tritt has a private Instagram and does not appear active on other social media platforms.

Family members occasionally share posts about Tarian, including annual happy birthday wishes from his dad.

"I'm so proud of the fine young man he has become!" Travis captioned photos of his youngest child on Instagram in November 2024. "Son, I love you with all of my heart and I pray that you will forever remain the strong, respectful, polite, kind and hard working man that you are today! Happy Birthday, Tarian! 🎂🎉🎊."

Tarian may also be musically inclined: Travis shared a photo of him playing the drums on Facebook for his 14th birthday.

Although it's unknown if the father and son like jamming out together, they've enjoyed quality time. In 2020, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, which kept him off the road, Travis was able to spend more time with his wife and Tarian, who was still living at home.

"Being able to constantly be around each other and experience life together at the same time and in the same place was the silver lining of the cloud," he told PEOPLE.