WASHINGTON – Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem, died Monday evening. She was 69.

According to People, Rolling Stones and Billboard, Nelson died of complications from lung cancer in St. Joseph, Missouri. According to TMZ, her lung cancer diagnosis was first announced in September.

The Grammy-winning rapper and his mother had a tumultuous relationship, with Nelson suing her son for defamation in 1999 over lyrics in his debut album. While a judge ruled in her favor at the time, she was only awarded $25,000 of the $11 million she originally asked for, ABC News reported at the time.

Throughout his decades-long career, Eminem has rapped about their rocky relationship, including “Cleaning’ Out My Closet,” “My Name Is” and “Headlights,” with fans speculating that it was an apology to his mother.

“And I’m angry that I didn’t have the opportunity to thank you for being my mother and father,” Eminem says in “Headlights.” So mom, please accept this as a tribute that I wrote on this jet.”

Most recently, Nelson celebrated her son online after he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

“Marshall, I want to say I couldn’t let this day go by without congratulating you on your induction into the Hall of Fame,” Nelson said in a social media video at the time. “I love you very much. I knew you could do it. It was a long road. I’m very, very proud of you.”

Nelson wrote a memoir in 2007 titled “My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem.”