By Olaitan Ibrahim
Debbie Nelson, the mother of renowned rapper Eminem, has passed away at the age of 69 following a prolonged battle with lung cancer.
A spokesperson for the artiste confirmed the news on Tuesday, revealing that Nelson died on Monday night in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, has yet to release a public statement regarding his mother’s death.
Nelson became a notable figure in pop culture largely due to her complicated relationship with her son, which was often explored in Eminem’s music. Tracks like “My Name Is,” “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” and “Headlights” noted their tumultuous history, with Eminem frequently addressing the struggles and conflicts between them.
Despite the public scrutiny, Nelson always maintained that her son’s criticisms of her were the result of 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.”
Their relationship hit a rough patch in 1999 when Nelson sued Eminem for $10 million, alleging defamation and emotional distress. This lawsuit stemmed from her claim that her son’s public remarks about her drug use and alleged abusive behavior had caused her significant harm. The case was eventually settled out of court, a situation Eminem referenced in his 2002 song “Without Me.”
There were signs of reconciliation over the years, particularly through Eminem’s 2014 song “Headlights,” where the rapper expressed regret for the way he had portrayed his mother in earlier works.
Debbie Nelson was born in 1955 on a U.S. Air Force base in Kansas. At the age of 15, she married Bruce Mathers in 1970, and two years later, gave birth to Eminem in St. Joseph, Missouri. The couple divorced in 1974, with Nelson citing physical abuse. After living in Metro Detroit for years, she returned to St. Joseph, where she spent her final days.