Eminem’s Mother, Debbie Nelson, Dies at 69
Debbie Nelson, the mother of renowned rapper Eminem, has passed away at the age of 69, The Associated Press reports, citing her son’s representative.
While the cause of death was not disclosed, Nelson had been battling lung cancer.
Nelson, born in 1955 on a Kansas military base, had a complex and publicly documented relationship with her son, Marshall Mathers III. Their strained dynamic was a recurring theme in Eminem’s music, notably in the 2002 hit “Cleaning Out My Closet,” where he addressed his childhood experiences and his mother’s struggles with prescription drugs. He also referenced their relationship, albeit with a more nuanced tone, in his Oscar-winning song “Lose Yourself,” famously mentioning “mom’s spaghetti.”
The relationship wasn’t solely depicted in music. Nelson filed and settled defamation lawsuits against Eminem stemming from his statements about her in interviews and publications. She later sought to offer her perspective in her 2008 memoir, “My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem,” aiming to counter the negative portrayals and highlight the positive aspects of their shared past. In the book, she detailed her own challenging upbringing and contrasted it with the love she received from her grandmother.
Beyond the well-known family dynamic, Nelson also endured a violent assault in 2004, when she was dragged from her car on Detroit’s Eight Mile Road – the street that inspired Eminem’s semi-autobiographical film of the same name. The assailant, a 16-year-old, received a prison sentence exceeding four years.
Eminem, who achieved widespread success and accolades including a 2022 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a best hip hop act win at the 2024 MTV EMAs, recently announced that he will become a grandfather. His daughter, Hailie Jade, is expecting.
