Eminem’s Brother Breaks Silence On Their Mother’s Death: ‘Mixed Emotions’

Debbie Nelson, mother of rapper Eminem (Marshall Bruce Mathers III), passed away on December 2, 2024, in St. Joseph, Missouri, at age 69. Her death followed a terminal lung cancer diagnosis reported three months prior. Nathan “Nate” Kane Mathers, 38, expressed his feelings on Instagram after his mother’s death, describing a mix of hatred and sadness. Eminem has not publicly commented on their mother’s passing. Join us in this slideshow as we explore Eminem’s career and Nate’s response to the passing of their mother.

Eminem gained fame with his debut album, The Slim Shady LP, released in 1999, which won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. His follow-up album, The Marshall Mathers LP, released in 2000, became one of the fastest-selling albums in U.S. history.

Throughout his career, Eminem has sold over 220 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists globally. Eminem has won numerous awards, including 15 Grammy Awards and an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Lose Yourself” from the film 8 Mile, in which he also starred.

Upon the news of his mother’s passing, Nate wrote, “Hatred and mixed emotions today.”

Nate and Eminem share a complicated family history. Eminem’s father, Marshall Mathers Jr., abandoned them when Eminem was an infant. Debbie later had Nate with her boyfriend Fred Samra.

In a podcast interview earlier in 2023, Nate spoke about Eminem’s positive influence in his life, stating that having his brother as a guardian was a blessing.

Eminem had stated, “When he was taken away I always said if I ever get in a position to take him, I would take him. I tried to apply for full custody when I was 20, but I didn’t have the means.”

Nate said, “He was the best role model I could have had to help me be the dad that I am today.”

In her 2008 memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, Nelson discussed her relationship with Eminem, claiming his lyrics about her were exaggerated. She sued him for defamation in 2000, seeking $10 million.

Nate has pursued a music career under the name “Nate Kane,” appearing in several of Eminem’s music videos. He married Ashley Mae Mathers in 2018 and has three children: Audrianna, Liam, and Carter.