Debbie Nelson, the mother of rap icon Eminem, has died at 69 following a battle with advanced lung cancer.
TMZ reported that Eminem’s representative, Dennis Dennehy, confirmed she died on Sunday night, December 1, in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Debbie Nelson poses for a portrait outside her Detroit home in September 2005 | Source: Getty Images
Debbie’s terminal diagnosis was first revealed in September, with reports indicating she had limited time left.
AmoMama readers shared their condolences online, sympathizing with the 52-year-old musician and acknowledging the impact of lung cancer.
Debbie Nelson leaves a Macomb County courtroom in Michigan on April 10, 2001 | Source: Getty Images
One reader commented, “RIP. Lung cancer is terrible and all other cancers,” while another typed, “Way too young, RIP.”
A third added, “Poor Eminem hope he be ok [sic].”
Debbie’s relationship with Eminem was often tumultuous and played out in public.
Early in his career, he accused her of neglect and abuse, as captured in songs like “Cleanin’ Out My Closet.”
Eminem at the 2004 MTV European Music Awards in Rome, Italy, on November 18, 2004 | Source: Getty Images
In response, Debbie filed a defamation lawsuit in 1999 and later shared her side of the story in her 2007 memoir, “My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem.”
In recent years, the pair made efforts to reconcile.
Debbie Nelson at her Detroit home, September 2005 | Source: Getty Images
The acclaimed rapper expressed regret for their strained relationship in his 2013 song “Headlights,” apologizing for his harsh words.
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Debbie publicly supported her son in later years, including congratulating him on his 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.
Debbie Nelson holds a handwritten poster of Eminem at her Detroit home in September 2005 | Source: Getty Images
Debbie leaves behind a legacy shaped by both challenges and reconciliation, marking her role in Eminem’s life story.
