News | Entertainment
14 Dec 2025 5:27
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.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     13 Dec: Sydney Sweeney hasn't had cosmetic surgery because she's "so scared of needles"
     13 Dec: Joanna Page has claimed Johnny Depp once kissed her
     13 Dec: David Corenswet had one disagreement with James Gunn on the set of Superman
     13 Dec: Cher is rumoured to be planning to tie the knot with toyboy Alexander 'AE' Edwards next year
     13 Dec: Dolly Parton is "excited" to return to work
     13 Dec: Sean 'Diddy' Combs' mom has slammed "inaccuracies" in Netflix's new docuseries
     13 Dec: Gene Simmons has claimed a series of "bad decisions" led to Ace Frehley's death
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Kiwi triathlete Hayden Wilde has only just won the first world title of his career...but he's already looking ahead to next season's T100 World Championship More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    New Zealand's economy is set to expand next year, as several key indicators point to economic recovery More...



     Today's News

    Soccer:
    Auckland FC coach Steve Corica wants more than just frequent flyer points from their next batch of A-League matches 21:56

    Entertainment:
    Sydney Sweeney hasn't had cosmetic surgery because she's "so scared of needles" 21:50

    Entertainment:
    Joanna Page has claimed Johnny Depp once kissed her 21:20

    Soccer:
    Auckland City have won the National Football League Grand Final with a dramatic 7-6 penalty shootout win over Wellington Olympic 21:16

    Hockey:
    The ice hockey rink at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games is too small. The NHL is not happy 21:06

    Entertainment:
    David Corenswet had one disagreement with James Gunn on the set of Superman 20:50

    Entertainment:
    Cher is rumoured to be planning to tie the knot with toyboy Alexander 'AE' Edwards next year 20:20

    Entertainment:
    Dolly Parton is "excited" to return to work 19:50

    Entertainment:
    Sean 'Diddy' Combs' mom has slammed "inaccuracies" in Netflix's new docuseries 19:20

    Environment:
    Fire crews are battling a large blaze on Auckland's North Shore 18:56


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd