Curious World Staff
Debbie Nelson, mother of rapper Eminem, passed away at 69 after battling advanced lung cancer. She died Monday night in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Nelson’s illness was declared terminal in September, and her life expectancy was short. Eminem, 52, had been financially supporting her, although they hadn’t spoken in years. According to sources, reconciliation may have benefited both parties.
Nelson gave birth to Eminem (Marshall Mathers III) in 1972 at 18. She had married his father, Marshall Bruce Mathers, in 1970, but they divorced shortly after his birth. Their relationship was turbulent, with Nelson even suing Eminem for defamation in 1999 over lyrics from The Slim Shady LP. She won $25,000 but received little after legal fees.
In 2008, she published a memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, detailing their strained bond and her own childhood abuse. Despite the tension, Eminem apologized to her in his 2013 song “Headlights.”
Nelson, who has a second son, Nathan, congratulated Eminem on his 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame admission in a video that expressed love and joy. Her death signals the conclusion of a complicated but important chapter in Eminem’s life.
Source: TMZ
