Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem, has died at the age of 69. A representative for the artist confirmed her death, though no cause has been provided. Nelson had been battling lung cancer.

Her relationship with her son, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, was famously tumultuous and became a focal point of Eminem’s music. The rapper frequently referenced their strained bond in his lyrics, most notably in the 2002 song “Cleaning Out My Closet,” where he accused his mother of substance abuse and described feeling emotionally manipulated.

In her 2008 memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, Nelson sought to clarify her side of the story, offering insights into her son’s early years. She also filed two defamation lawsuits against her son over public statements he made about her.

Eminem, who recently won Best Hip Hop Act at the 2024 MTV EMAs and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, had a somewhat more positive public persona of his mother in recent years, even referencing her with affection in his song “Lose Yourself” with the iconic line about “mom’s spaghetti.”

Earlier this year, Eminem announced he would become a grandfather, revealing that his daughter Hailie Jade was expecting her first child.