Eminem Mourns the Loss of His Mother, Debbie Nelson, at 69

Debbie Nelson, the mother of Grammy and Oscar-winning rapper Eminem, has passed away at the age of 69. A representative for the artist confirmed that Nelson died Monday evening in St. Joseph, Missouri, due to complications from lung cancer.

Nelson’s terminal illness had been reported earlier this year, with sources revealing that she was battling advanced lung cancer and had limited treatment options. A magazine source close to the family stated, “She is terminally ill with advanced lung cancer… staying between the cancer center and with family members.”

Born in 1955 on a Kansas military base, Nelson endured a challenging upbringing in a dysfunctional family. She married Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr., Eminem’s father, at the age of 16, and gave birth to the rapper two years later. Her relationship with Eminem was fraught, with the rapper accusing her of abuse and neglect in his song Cleanin’ Out My Closet. Despite these conflicts, she authored a memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, recounting her perspective on their turbulent relationship.

Nelson is survived by Eminem and her younger son, Nathan Mathers. Eminem’s father passed away in 2019 at the age of 67.