Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem, has passed away at the age of 69 after battling lung cancer. The news was confirmed by a representative for Eminem, who stated that she died on December 2 in St. Joseph, Missouri, according to TMZ.
Nelson’s illness was first publicly acknowledged in September when reports indicated that her condition had become critical. Born in 1955 on a military base in Kansas, Nelson had a difficult childhood, growing up in a “large dysfunctional family,” as described in her 2008 memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem. Following her parents’ separation when she was young, she became the primary caregiver for her four younger siblings. At 16, she married Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr., Eminem’s father, and gave birth to her son, Marshall, two years later in 1972.
Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, had a complex and often strained relationship with his mother, which was frequently referenced in his music. In songs like “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” he accused her of neglect and drug abuse, allegations that she denied. In response, Nelson filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against him in 1999. Although she won the case, the judgment awarded her only $25,000, with just $1,600 remaining after legal fees.
Despite their past struggles, Eminem and his mother appeared to reconcile in later years. In his 2013 song “Headlights,” he apologized for his past criticisms and expressed regret for airing their grievances in public. He acknowledged her hardships, singing, “I don’t hate you ‘cause, Ma / You’re still beautiful to me.”
Nelson publicly supported her son in recent years, including 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.”
Nelson is survived by her son, Eminem, and her younger son, Nathan Mathers. Eminem’s father, Marshall Mathers Sr., passed away in 2019 at the age of 67.
