Eminem's Grandmother Passed Away at 87 – Details

While Eminem's family mourns, his grandmother's passing brings back memories of their famously fractured relationship and the biting words she once had for her superstar grandson.

Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, has lost another close family member, and the timing makes it all the more heartbreaking.

Betty Kresin, the rapper's maternal grandmother, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Family sources with direct knowledge told TMZ that she died at her home in Missouri.

The cause of death has been identified as complications stemming from a battle with breast cancer. Betty was 87 years old at the time of her passing.

Another Loss After Debbie's Death

This tragedy marks a devastating pattern for the Mathers family over the last few years. Betty's daughter — Eminem's mother, Debbie — also passed away recently in December 2024.

Much like her mother, Debbie's death followed a grueling health struggle. She succumbed to advanced lung cancer, leaving a legacy that was often as turbulent as it was tragic.

Absence at the End

Despite the gravity of the moment, the "Lose Yourself" rapper was reportedly not present when Betty took her last breath. While he has often rapped about his family's internal wars, his absence at her bedside raises questions about where they stood.

The distance between them was not just physical, but deeply emotional, rooted in decades of public friction. Their history was defined by a sharp transition from childhood affection to adult animosity.

Betty's 2000 Interview That Made Headlines

For most of her life, Betty stayed out of the spotlight. But in August 2000, at the peak of Eminem's early fame, she gave a candid interview to the UK's Mirror — and her words were cutting.

At the time, Eminem had just exploded onto the music scene with "The Slim Shady LP" and the hit single "My Name Is." His rapid rise brought intense scrutiny to his personal life and family relationships, and Betty did not hold back.

She told The Mirror: "Neither his mother Debbie nor I can figure out what happened to this sweet, caring youngster. In just over 12 years, he's gone from telling me 'Grandma, I love you,' to 'Go to hell.' It just breaks my heart."

She went further, saying: "When I hear his vile, disgusting lyrics, I can't believe this is my Marshall, the same boy who used to come and sit on my lap."

A Complicated Legacy

The interview painted a picture of a family caught off guard by fame and by the persona that came with it. Betty's words reflected both grief and confusion over the distance that had grown between her and her grandson.

Eminem was in his mid-20s when the interview ran, already one of the most controversial artists in music. His lyrics had drawn sharp criticism from various groups, and Betty's public comments added a deeply personal dimension to the debate.

Whether the two ever reconciled remains unknown. Betty largely stayed out of public view in the years that followed, and Eminem never publicly addressed her 2000 remarks.

What is clear is that he has now said goodbye to two of the most significant women in his family, within a little over a year.