News | Entertainment
7 Nov 2025 23:37
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
     07 Nov: Guillermo del Toro says his long-awaited adaptation of Frankenstein feels deeply "autobiographical"
     07 Nov: Kim Kardashian has no idea what a jacket potato is
     07 Nov: Olympic gold medallist Dame Denise Lewis secretly split from her music mogul husband Steve Finan two years ago
     07 Nov: Sir David Beckham has been knighted by King Charles at Windsor Castle
     07 Nov: Sir Paul McCartney was inspired to form Wings after seeing country star Johnny Cash performing with his wife June Carter
     07 Nov: Sydney Sweeney wasn't affected by the American Eagle jeans controversy
     07 Nov: Kerry Katona sees herself as a "great example" of turning your life around
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The All Blacks will wear a white strip against Scotland in Sunday's Grand Slam test at Murrayfield in Edinburgh More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Labour Weekend - and weather - played a big role in consumer spending in October More...



     Today's News

    Business:
    Labour Weekend - and weather - played a big role in consumer spending in October 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Guillermo del Toro says his long-awaited adaptation of Frankenstein feels deeply "autobiographical" 21:37

    Accident and Emergency:
    School children are shaken-up after their bus was involved in a fatal crash with a car in Rotorua's Owhata last night 21:17

    Business:
    Our largest electricity gentailer is welcoming two major announcements for the energy sector 21:17

    Law and Order:
    The Police officer who led the investigation into the murder of Waimate man Anaru Moana is gutted his body hasn't been found 21:17

    Law and Order:
    Three men have been found guilty of murdering Waimate man, Anaru Moana 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Kim Kardashian has no idea what a jacket potato is 21:07

    Law and Order:
    A person's been arrested after armed police swarmed Innes Road in Christchurch's Mairehau this afternoon - called to reports of a gun 21:07

    Law and Order:
    A Virginia jury's awarded 10-million US dollars to a 28-year-old former teacher shot by a six-year-old student 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Olympic gold medallist Dame Denise Lewis secretly split from her music mogul husband Steve Finan two years ago 20:37


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd