Eminem’s Mother, Debbie Nelson, Dies at 69 After Lung Cancer Battle

Debbie Nelson, the mother of iconic rapper Eminem, has passed away at 69 after a long fight with lung cancer. Nelson died on Monday night in St. Joseph, Missouri, as confirmed by a spokesperson for Eminem on Tuesday.

Nelson became a prominent pop culture figure through Eminem’s music, where he detailed their tumultuous relationship in songs like “My Name Is” and “Cleanin’ Out My Closet.” Despite years of public conflict, there were signs of reconciliation, notably in Eminem’s 2014 track “Headlights,” where he expressed remorse.

Born in 1955 on a Kansas Air Force base, Nelson married at 15 and gave birth to Eminem two years later. She spent much of her life in Metro Detroit before returning to St. Joseph in her later years. Eminem has not yet made a public statement about her passing.