Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson dead at 69: Inside their rocky relationship

Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson has died aged 69, three months after it was revealed she was "terminally ill" with an advanced lung cancer.

A source told InTouch Weekly in September 2024, that Debbie had "a very limited around of time left", and that Eminem (Marshall Bruce Mathers III) had not been to visit her amid their estrangement, despite reports over the years that the two had reconciled.

Why was Eminem estranged from his mother Debbie Nelson?

Eminem's made his rocky relationship with his mother known throughout his song history, such as his 2002 hit song Cleanin' Out My Closet.

“Now, I would never diss my own mama just to get recognition, take a second to listen ‘fore you think this record is dissin’, but put yourself in my position, just try to envision, witnessin’ your mama poppin’ prescription pills in the kitchen,” he rapped on the track.

The track also referenced his daughter, Haillie Jade, in which he tells Debbie via song that Haillie wouldn't be at her funeral.

“And Hailie’s gettin' so big now, you should see her she’s beautiful, But you’ll never see her, she won’t even be at your funeral,” he rapped. "See, what hurts me the most is you won’t admit you was wrong, B***h, do your song, keep tellin’ yourself that you was a mom."

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Debbie Nelson once sued Eminem

Debbie filed an $11 million defamation lawsuit against her son after his 1999 track 'My Name Is' which contained lyrics alleging that Debbie was a drug addict. Although a judge ruled in her favour, she was only given US $25,000, most of which was used to pay her lawyers back.

In 2008, Debbie released a tell-all memoir titled My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, aiming to show her side of the story about their estranged relationship. In the book she stated that she "regrets keeping quiet as Em cultivated his public persona of a trailer dweller with a crazy welfare mom."

Did Eminem and Debbie reconcile?

While it appeared the two were on more amicable terms after Eminem's 2013 track 'Headlights', an apology song of sorts, it's been reported that while Eminem was financially supporting his mum, they still remained estranged.

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In 2022 Debbie posted a video congratulating her son on his induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. "Marshall, I want to say, I could not let this day go by without congratulating you on your induction into the Hall of Fame. I love you very much," she said. "I knew you'd get there. It's been a long ride. I'm very, very proud of you."

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