Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem, passed away at the age of 69. Nelson had a complicated and often strained relationship with her son, which was widely known through his music. The news of her death was confirmed by Eminem’s longtime representative, Dennis Dennehy, though the cause of death was not disclosed. It is known that Nelson had struggled with lung cancer.
Born in 1955 on a military base in Kansas, Nelson’s relationship with her son, Marshall Mathers III (Eminem), became a focal point in his music career. Eminem has openly criticized his mother in songs like the 2002 track “Cleaning Out My Closet,” where he raps about witnessing her take prescription pills and feeling misunderstood throughout his life. However, in the lyrics of his Academy Award-winning song “Lose Yourself,” from the movie 8 Mile, he references his mother more subtly, famously mentioning “mom’s spaghetti.” The song went on to win the Grammy for Best Rap Song in 2004.
Debbie Nelson took legal action to settle two defamation lawsuits related to Eminem’s public statements about her in magazines and on radio talk shows. In 2008, she published a book titled My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, where she sought to clarify her side of the story. In the book, Nelson shared insights into the rapper’s early life and expressed that Eminem had forgotten the positive moments they shared.
In her book, Debbie Nelson reflected on the close bond she shared with her son, Marshall, saying that they were so inseparable that friends and family often remarked it felt as though the umbilical cord had never been cut. She also opened up about her own difficult childhood, describing a violent home environment. However, she found solace during summers spent with her father’s mother, who was the only figure in her large, troubled family to show her and her siblings love.
In 2004, Nelson was attacked while in her car on Eight Mile Road, the street made famous by the movie 8 Mile. A 16-year-old dragged her from her vehicle, and she was later treated for bruises and a broken foot. The teenager was sentenced to over four years in prison for the assault.
Eminem, the highly celebrated rapper, won the award for Best Hip Hop Act at the 2024 MTV EMAs. In 2022, he was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In October, he shared the news that he is going to be a grandfather, revealing in a heartfelt music video that his daughter, Hailie Jade, is expecting a child. The video was a tribute to their bond.