Eminem’s Grandmother, Betty Kresin, Dead at 87

Earlier this week, Eminem’s maternal grandmother, Betty, passed away at her home in Missouri, according to TMZ. She had been battling complications from breast cancer, and the rapper was reportedly not present during her final moments. Their relationship, marked by both love and tension, had long been complicated. In a 2000 interview with London’s Mirror, Betty spoke candidly about her discomfort with Eminem’s explicit lyrics. “When I hear his vile disgusting lyrics I can’t believe this is my Marshall,” she said. “The same boy who used to come and sit on my lap.”

Yet she contextualized his work within the broader music landscape. “He’s no worse than the rest of them. I don’t like some of the lyrics myself, but this is what the people want to hear,” she explained. “If they’re going to criticise my grandson, criticise the rest of them. What about Limp Bizkit? And Ozzy Osbourne, who used to eat live bats on stage.” Betty lamented the scrutiny directed at her grandson: “They seem to be singling my grandson out. They’re picking on him.” Despite their disagreements, she conveyed deep affection: “He’s my first grandchild, I was there then he opened his eyes, I love that boy. I want to stop this war between us because life’s too short – I want him to hang in there, because everything’s going to be okay.”

Eminem Faces Family Loss a Year After Becoming a Grandfather

Eminem has not yet publicly commented on her passing. The news comes almost a year after he became a grandfather, following the birth of his daughter Hailie Jade’s son, Elliot Marshall McClintock, last April.

Hailie’s pregnancy was revealed in Eminem’s October 2024 music video for “Temporary.” The track contains lyrics addressed to her, crafted as a message she might one day hear, blending personal reflection with his enduring connection to family and legacy.