Death of Debbie Nelson: Eminem’s mother dies at the age of 69

Debbie Nelson, the mother of rap superstar Eminem, has died. She was 69.

A representative for Eminem confirmed this People that Nelson died last night (December 2) in St. Joseph, Missouri. The cause of death was given as complications from lung cancer.

In September it was reported that Nelson was “terminally ill” and did not have long to live.

Eminem’s relationship with his mother was notoriously turbulent and he often described her as unstable and difficult in his lyrics. The chorus of his 2002 single “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” was: “I’m sorry, mom / I never meant to hurt you / I never meant to make you cry / But tonight I’m cleaning up.” out my closet.”

In 2008, Nelson published a tell-all memoir about her life and experiences with the rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem: Clarifying My Life as Eminem’s Mother.

Nelson claimed in her memoir that much of what her son said about her was fabricated or exaggerated to help him become a rapper. She said she sued him for defamation in 2000 to raise money to prevent the foreclosure of her home. She also said she wasn’t angry with her son.

Open image in gallery

“If I made one mistake as a mother, it was giving in to my eldest son’s every whim,” Nelson writes in the book.

“He never knew his father and I did everything I could to make up for it. I wasn’t happy when he made a whole new life for himself – what mother wants to be known as a pill-popping alcoholic living on welfare? To be honest, I was heartbroken.

“The lies became more and more widespread – and not just from Marshall. … I think he has forgotten the good times we had, and this book is my way of making that clear.”

Nelson was born in 1955 on a military base in Kansas to parents Betty Hixson and Bob Nelson. She worked in various jobs throughout her life, including as the owner of a taxi-limousine company.

At the time of Eminem’s birth, she was known as Debbie Mathers, but reverted to her maiden name, Debbie Nelson, after realizing that she had become famous through her son’s lyrics.

She is survived by her sons Marshall Mathers and Nathan Samra-Mathers and her grandchildren Hailie Jade, Alaina Marie Mathers and Stevie Laine.