Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson dead at 69: Rapper's mom passes following battle with lung cancer

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Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson has died at age 69.

Nelson passed following a battle with advanced lung cancer on Monday evening in St. Joseph, Missouri, TMZ has reported. 

Eminem's representative confirmed with People that Nelson died from complications related to lung cancer. DailyMail.com has contacted a representative for the singer.  

Eminem - real name Marshall Mathers - and his mother have endured a strained relationship that's played out in the public eye since the rapper came to fame over 25 years ago, but the duo had made an effort to repair the relationship. 

During their rocky relationship, Eminem, 52, referred to his mother on the My Name Is track from the 1999 album The Slim Shady LP, which ultimately led to Debbie taking legal action against her son. 

In September, InTouch reported that Debbie was 'terminally ill with advanced lung cancer'. 

Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson has died at age 69

Marshall Mathers, 52, and his mother have endured a strained relationship that's played out in the public eye since the rapper came to fame over 25 years ago, but the duo had made an effort to repair the relationship

'There are not many options [for Debbie],' the source said. 'She is currently staying between the cancer center and with family members. She has a very limited amount of time [left].'

The report alleged that Eminem had been assisting his mother financially but had been in contact with her or other family members in Missouri for 'years.'

'People around her aren't even sure if Eminem is even aware of what is happening to his mother,' the insider said. 'He's good to his mom. He makes sure he takes care of her, but they don't really talk. It would be good for both of them [to communicate]. This could give them the chance to reconcile.'

The insider claimed Eminem has 'trust issues' with various family members following a legal battle with his aunt and uncle, who claimed their nephew attempted to evict them in a since-tossed lawsuit. 

Eminem also faced a lawsuit from his mother. 

In the 1999 song My Name Is, the rapper claimed his mother did 'more dope than' he did. 

Debbie responded to her son by suing him for $11 million, claiming defamation of character.

The rapper and record producer's lawyer then released a statement on behalf of his client saying that the lawsuit was as a 'result of a lifelong strained relationship' between the pair.

The lawsuit culminated with Debbie receiving $25,000 - most of which went to her lawyer. A judge ruled that Debbie was only entitled to $1,600 of the settlement, ABC News reported in 2001. 

In 2007, Debbie published the memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem: Setting the Record Straight on My Life as Eminem's Mother.

Debbie gave birth to Marshall when she was just 18 and he was then abandoned by his father, Marshall Bruce Mathers, Jr., shortly after being born. 

Eminem - real name Marshall Mathers - and his mother have endured a strained relationship that's played out in the public eye

During their rocky relationship, Eminem, 52, referred to his mother on the My Name Is track from the 1999 album The Slim Shady LP

Debbie did not attend her son's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2022 but congratulated him via video.  

Debbie addressed her son by saying: 'Marshall, I want to say, I could not let this day go by without congratulating you on your induction into the Hall of Fame.'

Eminem starred in the 2002 film '8 Mile', which was loosely based on his own life growing up in a trailer park and his strained relationship with his mother.

It told the story of Jimmy 'B-Rabbit' Smith Jr. (Eminem), a young white rapper trying to make it in the predominantly black hip-hop scene of Detroit.

Eminem starred in the 2002 film '8 Mile', which was loosely based on his own life growing up in a trailer park and his strained relationship with his mother; pictured June 2024

In an interview in 2008, Debbie admitted she wanted to put their differences aside.

She told Village Voice: 'I'm not ever gonna give up on my kids. I won't give up on anybody.

'There's hope for everybody. It's a matter of just basically swallowing your pride. It's like a cashed check. It's over, it's done. You need to move on.'

By 2013, Eminem released 'Headlights' as an apology to his mom.

He spat: 'I went in headfirst, never thinking about who what I said hurt/My mom probably got it the worst.'

Eminem added: 'And I'm mad I didn't get the chance to thank you for being my mom and my dad/So Mom, please accept this as a tribute I wrote on this jet.'

He apologized for the song Cleanin' Out My Closet, a track where he slammed her.

'But I’m sorry mama for ‘Cleanin’ Out My Closet,’ at the time I was angry,' he raps. 'That song I no longer pay at shows and I cringe every time it’s on the radio,' he adds. 

Eminem announced his daughter Hailie Jade Scott's pregnancy back in October. She is expecting her first child with husband Evan McClintock

During a previous interview on BET, Eminem said of his mother: 'At the end of the day she's my mother, and I love her because she's my mother.

'Even though we don't really speak, you know what I mean, she is my mother, I do love her, and I think I got a better understanding of what she was going through or what she may be going through, you know what I mean? Now when I see myself and how I actually became. I think there's a little compassion factored that goes with that.'

At the time, he said it had been several years since they had last spoken: 'It's probably been a couple years. Maybe three even four years.'

Prior to her death, Debbie was about to become a great grandmother. 

Eminem announced his daughter Hailie Jade Scott's pregnancy back in October. She is expecting her first child with husband Evan McClintock. 

The rapper announced the baby news in the music video for his song Temporary, which included footage of him walking her down the aisle and the moment she told him of his pregnancy.

Toward the end of the video, Hailie could be seen gifting her father a Detroit Lions jersey, which had 'Grandpa' written across the back as well as an ultrasound picture of her baby-to-be.

As he processed the news, the 15-time Grammy winner looked shocked as he did a double take of the ultrasound image as Hailie giggled by his side.

Debbie was a mother of two and grandmother of six. She had Eminem with then-husband Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr. and then son Nathan with Fred Sarma Jr. 

Eminem is a father of three - he has Hailie with ex-wife Kim Scott, as well as Alaina 'Lainey' Scott, and Stevie Laine, both of whom he adopted.

Nathan also has three children.