Lil Nas X is mourning the death of his mother, Tameka Hill, after announcing the loss in an emotional Instagram tribute Saturday.
The Grammy-winning rapper, 27, shared the news Aug. 29 alongside three photos of Hill, including images of her by herself, with her son at an event and with Lil Nas X as a child.
“RIP TO THE BADDEST EVER! LOVE U FOREVER MOMMY. this one’s gonna hurt. 🥹🥹,” he wrote.
Hill’s age and cause of death have not been disclosed. Representatives for Lil Nas X did not immediately provide additional details about her passing.
The tribute offers a rare public glimpse into the mother-son relationship, which Lil Nas X, whose real name is Montero Hill, has previously described as complicated.
In a 2020 interview with Variety, the artist said his mother struggled with addiction and acknowledged that the two did not have the closest relationship.
“She’s an addict, so we don’t have the closest relationship,” he said at the time, while adding, “But there’s still love.”
Despite that complicated history, Lil Nas X’s message Saturday centered on love and grief as he remembered his mother publicly.
The news comes during a significant period in the artist’s personal life. Lil Nas X recently returned to social media after nearly a year away and has spoken openly about his mental health journey and time in rehab.
In June, he said he had received a bipolar disorder diagnosis and was working with both a therapist and psychiatrist. He also said he was doing better and trying to stay grounded while spending time with family and friends.
Just days before announcing his mother’s death, Lil Nas X celebrated another personal milestone: his “10,000th day alive.”
On Aug. 24, he shared a video of a cake he had made to mark the occasion.
“So, tomorrow is my 10,000th day alive and…I made it!” he said.
Lil Nas X returned to social media in June with a message about moving into what he described as a new chapter, thanking fans for their support.
Now, that chapter has been met with a deeply personal loss.
For all the complexity he has previously described in their relationship, his message about Hill on Saturday left little ambiguity about what she meant to him: “LOVE U FOREVER MOMMY.”
