Levon Helm Studios Lawsuit: Amy Helm Accused of Borrowing $200,000 From Estate, Leaving Session Musicians Unpaid for Four Years

A federal lawsuit filed in New York on 11 August 2026 alleges Amy Helm took nearly $200,000 in loans from the Estate of Levon Helm, including from an LLC distributing royalties from his final three albums. The complaint claims the loans left session musicians on those recordings unpaid for four years. Amy Helm has publicly denied the allegations, calling a settlement proposal "extortion."