Debbie Nelson, the mother of Grammy-winning rapper Eminem, has died at the age of 69 from complications related to lung cancer.
A representative for Eminem confirmed the news, stating that Nelson passed away on the evening of Monday, December 2, in St. Joseph, Missouri. TMZ was the first to report her passing.
Nelson & Eminem had a tumultuous relationship
Nelson’s battle with terminal lung cancer became public in September when reports indicated she had limited time left.
According to In Touch, she spent her final months between a cancer center and family members.
Despite their strained relationship, Eminem reportedly supported his mother financially during her illness.
However, it remains unclear whether the two reconciled before her death.
Born in 1955 on a military base in Kansas, Nelson grew up in what she described as a “large dysfunctional family,” according to her 2008 memoir My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem.
As the eldest of five children, she took on family responsibilities early after her parents divorced.
At 18, she gave birth to Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, with her high school sweetheart, Marshall Bruce Mathers.
Their marriage ended shortly after Eminem’s birth.
The tumultuous relationship between Nelson and Eminem often made headlines.
In 1999, she filed a defamation lawsuit over lyrics in his debut album, The Slim Shady LP, where he claimed she used drugs.
Although she won, the awarded amount fell far short of the $11 million she sought.
In My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, Nelson detailed her troubled past, including allegations of childhood abuse by her stepfather.
Despite their history, she expressed hope for reconciliation in a 2008 interview, saying, “There’s hope for everybody. It’s a matter of swallowing your pride.”
Eminem later extended an olive branch in his 2013 song “Headlights,” apologizing for past grievances.
Although Nelson missed his 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, she shared a heartfelt video congratulating him, saying, “I love you very much. I knew you’d get there. It’s been a long ride. I’m very, very proud of you.”
Nelson is survived by Eminem and her younger son, Nathan Samra-Mathers, born in 1986, whom Eminem later gained custody of after Nathan spent time in foster care.