By Victor Akan
Debbie Nelson, the mother of renowned rapper Eminem, has died at the age of 69 after a prolonged battle with lung cancer.
A spokesperson for Eminem confirmed the news on Tuesday, stating that Nelson died on Monday night in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, has not yet made a public statement about his mother’s death.
Nelson became a prominent figure in pop culture through Eminem’s music, where he frequently chronicled their troubled relationship. Tracks such as “My Name Is,” “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” and “Headlights” pointed to their rocky history.
Despite the public nature of their conflict, Nelson maintained that her son’s criticisms stemmed from misunderstanding. In her 2008 memoir, “My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem,” she wrote:
“In my heart, I know Marshall still loves me. He’s just confused.”
In 1999, Nelson sued Eminem for $10 million, alleging defamation and emotional distress based on his public statements about her alleged drug use and abusive behavior.
The lawsuit was later settled out of court, an event Eminem referenced in his song “Without Me.”
Over the years, there were signs of reconciliation, particularly in “Headlights,” a 2014 track where Eminem expressed regret for his harsh portrayal of his mother.
Debbie Nelson was born in 1955 on a U.S. Air Force base in Kansas. She married Bruce Mathers in 1970 at the age of 15, and two years later, she gave birth to Eminem in St. Joseph, Missouri. The couple divorced in 1974, with Nelson citing physical abuse.
After spending years in Metro Detroit, Nelson returned to St. Joseph, where she lived out her final days.
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