Debbie Nelson, mother of rapper Eminem, has passed away at the age of 69 from complications related to lung cancer.
According to TMZ, a representative for Eminem confirmed the news that she died on December 2 in St. Joseph, Missouri. Nelson’s illness was initially revealed in September when reports suggested her condition was critical.
Born in 1955 on a military base in Kansas, Nelson endured a tumultuous upbringing in a “large dysfunctional family,” as detailed in her 2008 memoir ‘My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem’.
Following her parents’ separation before she turned 10, she became the primary caregiver for her four younger siblings. At 16, she married Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr, Eminem’s father, and welcomed her son two years later in 1972.
Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, shared a complicated relationship with his mother, often referenced in his music.
In tracks like “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” he accused her of neglect and drug use, allegations she denied. Nelson responded by filing a $10 million defamation lawsuit against him in 1999.
Although she won, the judgement awarded her just $25,000, with only $1,600 remaining after legal fees, according to ABC News.
Despite their rocky past, the two appeared to mend their relationship over time.
In 2013, Eminem released the song ‘Headlights’, in which he apologised for his earlier criticisms and expressed regret for airing their grievances publicly. He acknowledged her struggles, singing, “I don’t hate you ‘cause, Ma / You’re still beautiful to me.”
Nelson showed public support for her son in later years, notably congratulating him on his 2022 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In a now-deleted video, she expressed her pride, saying, “I knew you’d get there. It’s been a long ride. I’m very, very proud of you.”
Eminem’s father, Marshall Mathers Sr, passed away in 2019 at the age of 67. Nelson is survived by her son, Eminem, and her younger son, Nathan Mathers.