Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his hit song lyrics, has died. She was 69.
Eminem鈥檚 longtime representative Dennis Dennehy confirmed Nelson鈥檚 death in an email on Tuesday. He did not provide a cause of death, although Nelson had battled lung cancer.
Nelson鈥檚 fraught relationship with her son, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, has been no secret since the Detroit rapper became a star.
Eminem has disparaged his mother in songs such as the 2002 single 鈥淐leaning Out My Closet.鈥� Eminem sings, 鈥淲itnessin鈥� your mama poppin鈥� prescription pills in the kitchen. Bitchin鈥� that someone鈥檚 always goin鈥� through her purse and shit鈥檚 missin鈥�. Goin鈥� through public housing systems, victim of M眉nchausen鈥檚 Syndrome. My whole life I was made to believe I was sick when I wasn鈥檛.鈥�
In lyrics from his Oscar-winning hit 鈥淟ose Yourself鈥� from the movie, 鈥�8 Mile,鈥� his feelings seem to have simmered, referencing his "mom鈥檚 spaghetti.鈥� The song went on to win best rap song at the 2004 Grammy Awards.
Nelson brought and settled two defamation lawsuits over Eminem鈥檚 statements about her in magazines and on radio talk shows. In her 2008 book, 鈥淢y Son Marshall, My Son Eminem,鈥� she attempted to set the record straight by providing readers details about the rapper鈥檚 early life.
The highly acclaimed rapper Eminem earlier this month won for best hip hop act at the 2024 MTV EMAs and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
He last month that he was going to be a grandfather, saying his daughter Hailie Jade is pregnant by way of a touching music video that is a tribute to their relationship.
Hallie Golden, The Associated Press
