Eminem’s mother Debbie Nelson dies, aged 69

Eminem’s mother, Debbie Nelson, has died from complications related to advanced lung cancer at the age of 69.

Nelson’s cancer diagnosis was made public in September, and a representative for Eminem confirmed to People that she died last night (December 2) in St. Joseph, Missouri.

A source told In Touch at the time her diagnosis was made public that Eminem was supporting his mother financially, saying, “People around her aren’t even sure if Eminem is even aware of what is happening to his mother. He’s good to his mom. He makes sure he takes care of her, but they don’t really talk. It would be good for both of them [to communicate]. This could give them the chance to reconcile.”

Though Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers III, has provided financial support to his mother, the rapper hasn’t been in contact with her for several years, and he’s discussed their relationship in his lyrics throughout his career.

In ‘My Name Is’, the lead single on his 1999 album ‘The Slim Shady LP,’ he claims that his mother “does more dope than I do,” and after the release of his 2002 song ‘Cleanin’ Out My Closet,’ inspired by his childhood and relationships (“But how dare you try to take what you didn’t help me to get?! / You selfish bitch, I hope you fuckin’ burn in hell for this shit!”), Nelson sued him for $11million for defamation.

Eminem’s lawyer claimed the lawsuit was a “result of a lifelong strained relationship between [Eminem] and mother,” and that it was “painful” to be sued by your own mother. Per ABC News, her case was successful, but she was only granted $25,000 of the $11million – working out at around $1,600 after lawyer fees.

Eminem’s relationship with Nelson also inspired some of the scenes in his semi-autobiographical 2002 movie 8 Mile, while in 2009, Eminem discussed Nelson again in the track ‘My Mom,’ in which he said, “My mom loved Valium and lots of drugs / That’s why I am like I am ‘cause I’m like her.”

In an interview with The Village Voice in 2008, Nelson said that she’d considered reconciling with her son, saying, “There’s hope for everybody. It’s a matter of just basically swallowing your pride. It’s like a cashed check. It’s over, it’s done. You need to move on.”

Their relationship appeared to grow warmer over time, with Eminem saying in an interview with BET, posted online in 2011, “Even though we don’t really speak, she is my mother, I do love her, and I think I got a better understanding of what she was going through or what she may be going through.”

And, on the 2013 track ‘Headlights,’ he sang, “I’m mad I didn’t get the chance to thank you for being my mom and my dad. So Mom, please accept this as a tribute I wrote on this jet.”

Nelson went on to congratulate him online after his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, too, saying, “Marshall, I want to say, I could not let this day go by without congratulating you on your induction into the Hall of Fame.

“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’s death comes after the news that Eminem’s daughter, Hailie – who he shared with ex-wife Kim Scott – is expecting her first child. The announcement came in October, in his music video for ‘Temporary’. The video for the track, written as a letter from Eminem to Hailie in the event of his own death, features a montage of clips including one in which she gives her father a blue jumper with “Grandpa 1” written on the back.

She then hands him what looks like a picture of an ultrasound scan, which he appears visibly surprised by, before he shows it to the camera.

Meanwhile, Eminem’s father, Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr., who the rapper was estranged from, died in 2019 aged 67.