News | Entertainment
21 Jan 2026 17:44
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson has died

    The 52-year-old rap icon's 69-year-old parent is said to have battled lung cancer and passed away on Monday (01.12.24) in St. Joseph, Missouri, according to TMZ


    The 'Lose Yourself' hitmaker and Debbie had a rocky relationship, with the rapper documenting their ups and downs in hits including, 'Cleanin' Out My Closet' and 'Headlights'.

    The Mom's Spaghetti restaurant founder's mother's passing comes five years after his estranged father, Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr, passed away after a heart attack at the age of 67 in 2019.

    Debbie became pregnant with Eminem - whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III - when she was just 18 in 1972.

    She sued her son for $11 million for defamation because of the lyrics to 2002's 'Cleanin' Out My Closet', on which he rapped: "Now, I would never diss my own mama just to get recognition

    "Take a second to listen 'fore you think this record is dissin'

    But put yourself in my position, just try to envision

    Witnessin' your mama poppin' prescription pills in the kitchen."

    Eminem starred in the 2002 film '8 Mile', which was loosely based on his own life growing up in a trailer park and his strained relationship with his mother.

    It told the story of Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr. (Eminem), a young white rapper trying to make it in the predominantly black hip-hop scene of Detroit.

    In an interview in 2008, Debbie admitted she wanted to put their differences aside.

    She told Village Voice: "I'm not ever gonna give up on my kids. I won't give up on anybody.

    "There's hope for everybody. It's a matter of just basically swallowing your pride. It's like a cashed check. It's over, it's done. You need to move on."

    By 2013, Eminem released 'Headlights' as an apology to his mom.

    He spat: "I went in headfirst, never thinking about who what I said hurt/My mom probably got it the worst."

    Eminem added: "And I'm mad I didn't get the chance to thank you for being my mom and my dad/So Mom, please accept this as a tribute I wrote on this jet."

    When her son was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, Debbie congratulated him in a special video message.

    She said: "Marshall, I want to say, I could not let this day go by without congratulating you on your induction into the Hall of Fame. I love you very much. I knew you'd get there. It's been a long ride. I'm very, very proud of you.

    Debbie also had a second son called Nathan Samra-Mathers with Fred Samra Jr in 1986.

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     21 Jan: Paul Hardcastle spoke to his son just minutes before his death in a motorcycle accident
     21 Jan: Ben Affleck vomited between takes while filming Armageddon
     21 Jan: Hailee Steinfeld was "distracted" before the Golden Globes by her husband Josh Allen's NFL playoff game
     21 Jan: Perrie Edwards has given birth to her second child
     21 Jan: Jennifer Lawrence claims she missed out on a role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to Margot Robbie because she wasn't "pretty enough"
     21 Jan: Emilia Clarke suffered a broken rib filming sex scenes for her new series Ponies
     21 Jan: Wayne Brady hopes that coming out as pansexual helps others to feel comfortable about themselves
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Black Sticks women's coach Phil Burrows is eager to see internal competition at this week's four-team international tournament in Dunedin More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Pic's Peanut Butter is boasting huge financial success, with sales reaching 40-million dollars More...



     Today's News

    Auckland:
    Police have called off today's search for a missing near Warkworth - north of Auckland - swept away in his car this morning trying to ford Mahurangi River 17:37

    Basketball:
    The Breakers bigs are being asked to step up for tonight's NBL Ignite Cup game at second-place South East Melbourne 17:27

    Entertainment:
    Paul Hardcastle spoke to his son just minutes before his death in a motorcycle accident 17:10

    Lower South Island:
    Josh Burnett has made a late charge to claim a stage four win on cycling's Tour of Southland 16:57

    Rugby League:
    Australian rugby continues to chase NRL stars at the Sydney Roosters 16:47

    Entertainment:
    Ben Affleck vomited between takes while filming Armageddon 16:40

    Soccer:
    One of the greatest legacies in New Zealand football will now grow at Auckland FC 16:17

    Entertainment:
    Hailee Steinfeld was "distracted" before the Golden Globes by her husband Josh Allen's NFL playoff game 16:10

    General:
    What is skimo? All you need to know about the new Winter Olympics event ahead of Milano Cortina 2026 Games 16:07

    Entertainment:
    Perrie Edwards has given birth to her second child 15:40


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd