Rapper Eminem’s mother, Debbie Nelson, has passed away at the age of 69 due to complications from lung cancer. According to a representative for Eminem, Nelson died on Monday, December 2, in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Born in 1955, Nelson grew up in a “large dysfunctional family” before marrying Eminem’s father, Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr., at age 16 and giving birth to her son Marshall (Eminem) in 1972. The couple had a rocky relationship over the years, which was evident in their public feud in 2002, when Nelson sued Eminem for $11 million over defamation.
However, it appears that Nelson had expressed a desire to reconcile with Eminem on multiple occasions. In a 2008 interview, she stated that “there’s hope for everybody” and encouraged forgiveness. More recently, fans speculated that her 2013 song “Headlights” was an apology from Eminem to his mother.
Despite their complicated past, Nelson had seemingly put aside their differences in recent years. She congratulated Eminem on his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 and expressed her pride and love for him. The news of Nelson’s passing has been met with tributes from fans, including a heartfelt message from her son Nathan Mathers, who is also survived by Eminem.
Source: https://people.com/debbie-nelson-eminem-mom-dead-age-69-8754369