Debbie Nelson, the mother of iconic rapper Eminem, has passed away at the age of 69 following a long struggle with lung cancer.
A spokesperson for Eminem confirmed her death on Monday night in St. Joseph, Missouri. The rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, has yet to release a public statement about the loss.
Nelson became a well-known figure in popular culture through Eminem’s music, which often highlighted their turbulent relationship. Songs like “My Name Is,” “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” and “Headlights” offered glimpses into their rocky dynamic.
Despite their public disagreements, Nelson consistently maintained that her son’s depictions of her were based on misunderstandings. In her 2008 memoir, “My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem,” she wrote, “In my heart, I know Marshall still loves me. He’s just confused.”
In 1999, Nelson filed a $10 million lawsuit against Eminem for defamation and emotional distress, alleging his claims about her drug use and abusive behavior were false. The case was eventually settled out of court, an event Eminem referenced in his track “Without Me.”
Over time, hints of reconciliation emerged, particularly in the 2014 song “Headlights,” where Eminem apologized for the harsh portrayal of his mother in his earlier music.
Born in 1955 on a U.S. Air Force base in Kansas, Nelson married Bruce Mathers at age 15 and gave birth to Eminem two years later in St. Joseph, Missouri. After their divorce in 1974, Nelson cited physical abuse as the cause.
She spent many years in Metro Detroit before returning to St. Joseph, where she lived her final days.