Early Life and Education of Eminem: A Complete Timeline
How education and upbringing influenced the life of Eminem. A timeline of key moments.
Eminem, or Marshall Mathers III, is a highly influential American rapper, songwriter, and producer. He is celebrated for popularizing hip-hop in Middle America and challenging racial barriers in the music industry. His controversial work in the late 90s and early 2000s made him a polarizing figure, yet he is seen as a voice for the American underclass. Eminem is known for his conscious lyrics, addressing political criticism and social commentary, and his exceptional rap flow.
1951: Birth of Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr.
In 1951, Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr., Eminem's father, was born.
1955: Birth of Deborah Nelson
In 1955, Deborah "Debbie" Nelson, Eminem's mother, was born.
October 17, 1972: Eminem's Birth
On October 17, 1972, Marshall Bruce Mathers III, known professionally as Eminem, was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, to parents Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr. and Deborah "Debbie" Nelson.
1982: Lawsuit Filed After Assault
In 1982, Eminem's mother, Debbie, filed a lawsuit against the public school after D'Angelo Bailey severely injured Eminem's head in an assault.
1984: Michael Jackson's Hair Incident
In 1984, Michael Jackson's hair caught fire during the filming of a commercial. This incident was later parodied in Eminem's "Just Lose It" music video, sparking controversy in 2004.
1986: Birth of Nathan Kane Samara
In 1986, Eminem's mother had a son named Nathan "Nate" Kane Samara with her then-boyfriend Fred Samara.
1987: Kim Scott moves in with Eminem and his mother
In 1987, Debbie allowed runaway Kimberly Anne "Kim" Scott to stay at their home.
January 14, 1991: Relationship with Kimberly Anne Scott Began
On January 14, 1991, Eminem began an on-and-off relationship with Kimberly Anne Scott.
1991: Death of Ronnie Polkingharn
In 1991, following the suicide of his uncle, Ronnie Polkingharn, Eminem stopped speaking publicly for days and did not attend his funeral.
December 25, 1995: Birth of Hailie Jade
On December 25, 1995, Eminem's only biological child, Hailie Jade, was born.
March 1997: Fired From Gilbert's Lodge for the Last Time
In March 1997, Eminem was fired from Gilbert's Lodge for the last time and lived in his mother's mobile home with Kim and Hailie.
June 14, 1999: Marriage to Kim Scott
On June 14, 1999, Eminem married Kim Scott.
1999: Hinted Avoidance of Drug Use in "My Name Is"
In 1999, Eminem hinted in his single "My Name Is" that he avoided the use of drugs after experiencing his mother's history of drug abuse.
2000: Assault Charge
In 2000, Eminem faced an assault charge stemming from an incident involving a bouncer he saw kissing his wife, which became a theme examined in his later album, The Eminem Show.
October 5, 2001: Divorce from Kim Scott
On October 5, 2001, Eminem and Kim Scott divorced.
2002: Development of Drug Addiction
In 2002, Eminem developed a drug addiction during the production of 8 Mile, initially using Ambien to combat insomnia caused by working long hours.
2002: Relationship with Mariah Carey
In 2002, Eminem discussed being in a relationship with singer Mariah Carey, though she later denied they dated.
2004: Release of Protest Song "Mosh"
Ahead of the 2004 United States presidential election, Eminem released the protest song "Mosh", which criticized then-President George W. Bush, although he did not endorse Democratic nominee John Kerry.
January 14, 2006: Brief Remarriage to Kim Scott
On January 14, 2006, Eminem and Kim Scott briefly remarried before filing for divorce again almost three months later.
April 2006: Death of Proof
In April 2006, Proof, Eminem's childhood friend, was murdered, marking a significant personal loss for Eminem.
December 19, 2006: Finalization of Divorce and Joint Custody Agreement
On December 19, 2006, Eminem and Kim Scott's divorce was finalized, and they agreed to joint custody of their daughter, Hailie.
December 2007: Hospitalization After Methadone Overdose
In December 2007, Eminem was hospitalized after an accidental methadone overdose. He had obtained the pills from a dealer who told him they were "just like Vicodin, and easier on [your] liver".
2007: Jackson and Sony buy Famous Music
In 2007, Michael Jackson and Sony acquired Famous Music from Viacom, granting Jackson the rights to songs by Eminem and other artists.
April 20, 2008: Sobriety Date
Eminem has been sober since April 20, 2008, with Elton John serving as a mentor during his recovery.
2009: Expressed Support for Barack Obama
In 2009, Eminem expressed support for Barack Obama in an interview.
2010: Denial of Renewed Relationship with Kim Scott
In early 2010, Eminem denied tabloid reports that he and Kim Scott had renewed their romantic relationship, though his representative confirmed they remained friendly.
2013: Release of "Headlights" Apologizing to His Mother
In 2013, Eminem released the song "Headlights", in which he reiterated his love for his mother and apologized to her for some of the lyrics from his earlier songs, including "Cleanin' Out My Closet".
2013: Demolition of Childhood Home
In 2013, the State of Michigan demolished Eminem's childhood home after it was damaged by arson.
2016: Release of "Campaign Speech"
Eminem returned to overt political expression during the 2016 United States presidential election with the release of "Campaign Speech", a freestyle attacking Republican candidate Donald Trump.
2017: Reference to the Las Vegas Shooting
Eminem's 2020 song "Darkness" references the 2017 Las Vegas shooting and ends with a call for stricter gun control laws.
2017: Performance of "The Storm" at BET Hip Hop Awards
In 2017, Eminem performed another anti-Trump freestyle, "The Storm", at the BET Hip Hop Awards, supporting Colin Kaepernick and the national anthem protests.
2017: Mom's Spaghetti Pop-Up in Detroit
In 2017, Mom's Spaghetti was previously a pop-up in Detroit.
2018: Mom's Spaghetti Pop-Up at Coachella
In 2018, Mom's Spaghetti was a pop-up at Coachella.
2019: Death of Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr.
In 2019, Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr., Eminem's father, passed away.
2019: Previous Attempt to Break Into Eminem's Home
In 2019, Matthew David Hughes had previously pleaded guilty to breaking into a Rochester Hills home in search of Eminem.
April 2020: Home Invasion by Matthew David Hughes
In April 2020, Matthew David Hughes broke into Eminem's house, stating he was there to kill him. Hughes was later charged with multiple offenses.
2020: COVID-19 Relief Efforts
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Eminem donated rare Air Jordan 4 Retro Eminem Carhartt shoes and spaghetti meals to support relief efforts.
2020: Initial Home Invasion Incident
In 2020, Matthew David Hughes broke into Eminem's house, stating he was there to kill him. Eminem testified about the intrusion during the trial in 2025.
September 29, 2021: Opening of Mom's Spaghetti Restaurant
On September 29, 2021, Eminem and Union Joints opened a spaghetti restaurant called Mom's Spaghetti in Detroit.
2021: Hughes Pleads Guilty
In 2021, Matthew David Hughes pleaded guilty to second-degree home invasion and was sentenced to probation and time served.
November 2022: Mother's Tribute at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
In November 2022, Eminem's mother publicly paid tribute to him when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2022: Christian Lyrics on "Use This Gospel" Remix
In 2022, Eminem delivered explicitly Christian lyrics on the remix of Kanye West and DJ Khaled's track "Use This Gospel", thanking Jesus and rapping about salvation, which topped the Billboard Christian Songs chart.
August 30, 2023: Denouncement by Jacksonville Shooter
On August 30, 2023, it was revealed that Ryan Palmeter, the perpetrator of the 2023 Jacksonville shooting, denounced Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly in his manifesto for their involvement in rap, prior to committing a racially motivated shooting.
2023: Launch of Mom's Spaghetti Jarred Pasta Sauce
In 2023, Eminem announced the launch of a "Mom's Spaghetti" jarred pasta sauce.
2023: Cease and Desist Letter to Vivek Ramaswamy
In 2023, Eminem sent a cease and desist letter to Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy requesting that he stop performing "Lose Yourself" at campaign events.
August 2024: Hughes Returns to Eminem's Property and is Arrested Again
In August 2024, Matthew David Hughes returned to Eminem's property and was arrested again.
October 2024: Endorsement of Kamala Harris at Detroit Rally
In October 2024, during the 2024 United States presidential election, Eminem publicly endorsed Kamala Harris at a rally in Detroit, emphasizing the importance of voter turnout in Michigan and supporting Harris's stance on civil liberties and freedom of expression.
December 2024: Death of Eminem's Mother
In December 2024, Eminem's mother died due to complications from lung cancer.
2024: Death of Deborah Nelson
In 2024, Deborah "Debbie" Nelson, Eminem's mother, passed away.
May 2025: Hughes Convicted of Home Invasion and Stalking
In May 2025, Matthew David Hughes was convicted of first-degree home invasion and aggravated stalking, stemming from the 2020 and 2024 incidents and sentenced to 15 to 35 years in prison, plus 3½ years to be served consecutively.
October 13, 2025: Adoption announcement
On October 13, 2025, it was revealed that Eminem's adopted daughter Alaina was expecting her first child with her husband Matt Moeller.
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