Eminem’s Mom Debbie Nelson Dead at Age 69 After Battle With Advanced Lung Cancer

Eminem’s mom, Debbie Nelson, has died at the age of 69 following her battle with cancer, according to reports.

TMZ was the first outlet to report that Debbie died due to lung cancer on Monday, December 2, in St. Joseph, Missouri.

In addition to Eminem, 52, Debbie was the mother to son Nathan Samra-Mathers. She shared Eminem with Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr., who died at the age of 67 in 2019, and she shared Nathan with Fred Samara Jr.

Debbie’s passing comes three months after In Touch exclusively reported that she was “terminally ill with advanced lung cancer.”

“There are not many options [for Debbie],” the source shared in September. “She is currently staying between the cancer center and with family members. She has a very limited amount of time [left].”

While the insider shared that Eminem had been helping Debbie out financially, he has not been in touch with her or other family members for “years.”

“People around her aren’t even sure if Eminem is even aware of what is happening to his mother,” the source continued. “He’s good to his mom. He makes sure he takes care of her, but they don’t really talk. It would be good for both of them [to communicate]. This could give them the chance to reconcile.”

Eminem and Debbie faced several obstacles in their relationship over the years, and she even sued him in 1999 for defamation after he implied that she did drugs in one of his songs. Debbie requested $11 million and was granted $25,000, though she only ended up with $1,600 after she paid her legal fees.

Debbie further opened up about her strained relationship with the “Lose Yourself” rapper in her 2007 memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem.

“I’m not ever gonna give up on my kids,” she told the Village Voice in 2008 while promoting the memoir. “There’s hope for everybody. It’s a matter of just basically swallowing your pride.”

Debbie – who was battling breast cancer when the book was released – also shared an update about her health. “I’m still under doctor’s care, which I probably will be for a while. Basically a lot of the stuff is hereditary, but that happens,” she told the outlet at the time. “Cancers and heart disease and all that, and all the genetic things … I worry about my boys, having high blood pressure and things.”

The duo seemed to work on improving their relationship in later years, and Eminem apologized for their strained relationship in his 2013 track “Headlights.”

Meanwhile, Debbie congratulated Eminem – whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III – when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

“Marshall, I want to say, I could not let this day go by without congratulating you on your induction into the Hall of Fame,” she said in a since-deleted video. “I love you very much. I knew you’d get there. It’s been a long ride. I’m very, very proud of you.”