Eminem’s Mother Debbie Nelson Dies at 69
Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem, has passed away at the age of 69. Eminem’s representative, Dennis Dennehy, confirmed the news to US media. While the cause of death has not been disclosed, Nelson had previously battled lung cancer.
Eminem has not publicly commented on her death yet. Their relationship, often strained, was a frequent subject in Eminem’s music, particularly in his early years. One of his biggest hits, Cleanin’ Out My Closet, sharply criticized his mother, accusing her of drug abuse and neglect. In the song, Eminem rapped, “Witnessin’ your mama poppin’ prescription pills in the kitchen,” and later, “keep telling yourself that you was a mom.”
In 1999, Nelson sued her son over defamation claims in his song My Name Is, though the case was settled out of court for $25,000. Eminem also explored his struggles with addiction in songs like My Mom, where he linked his issues to his mother’s behavior.
In 2008, Nelson published a memoir titled My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, expressing heartbreak over her son’s portrayal of her. However, the relationship between mother and son seemed to improve over the years. In his 2013 song Headlights, Eminem apologized for some of his earlier lyrics, acknowledging that he may have taken things too far. “I’m sorry, Mama, for Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” he rapped.
Although they remained mostly distant, Nelson expressed pride and love for her son in 2022 when Eminem was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She publicly congratulated him in a video message, saying, “I love you very much. I knew you’d get there. It’s been a long ride. I’m very, very proud of you.”
