Eminem’s Mother, Debbie Nelson, Dies at 69 After Cancer Battle

|By Oko-Echem Agnes –

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Debbie Nelson, mother of famed rapper Eminem, passed away on Monday night in St. Joseph, Missouri, after a long struggle with lung cancer. She was 69 years old, according to a statement from Eminem’s spokesperson on Tuesday.

Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, has not yet commented publicly on her passing. Nelson gained widespread recognition due to Eminem’s music, where their tumultuous relationship became a recurring theme in hits like My Name Is, Cleanin’ Out My Closet, and Headlights.

Despite years of conflict, there were moments of reconciliation. In her 2008 memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, Nelson claimed her son’s criticisms stemmed from misunderstanding, stating, “In my heart, I know Marshall still loves me. He’s just confused.”

Nelson, born in 1955 on a U.S. Air Force base in Kansas, faced a challenging life. She married Bruce Mathers in 1970 at age 15, gave birth to Eminem in 1972, and divorced in 1974, citing abuse. After years in Detroit, she returned to St. Joseph, where she lived until her death.