Eminem’s troubled family life is no secret. From issues with his mother, Debbie Mathers, to a rocky relationship with his ex-wife Kim Scott, the rapper has been open about the challenges he’s faced. But behind the pain, there were a few people who brought light into his early life — especially his uncle Ronnie and great-aunt Edna.
Eminem has often talked about Ronnie Polkingharn, who introduced him to hip hop. Ronnie was more than an uncle — he was Em’s best friend. They were close in age, recorded tapes together, and shared a strong bond. Sadly, Ronnie died by suicide on December 13, 1991, which left Eminem devastated. He was so shaken that he didn’t attend the open-casket funeral and reportedly stopped speaking to people for a while.
While Ronnie is well known to fans through interviews and documentaries, fewer people know about Aunt Edna and Uncle Charles, who played a major role in Eminem’s childhood.
In a 2004 interview, Eminem said they were two of the only people who ever made him feel truly loved. They lived in St. Joseph, Missouri, and came from his father’s side of the family. Em shared how they took care of him on weekends, brought him to school, let him stay up watching TV, and gave him small jobs like cutting the grass for $5.
“They were older, but they did things with me,” Eminem said. “Between them and my Uncle Ronnie, they were my solidity.”
Eminem’s grandmother, Betty Kresin, also spoke about Edna’s importance in his life. She said Eminem saw her as his real mother and would sneak away to visit her in Missouri. As Edna got older, Eminem paid for her care and stayed close to her until the end. He even wrote a song honoring her and Charles for raising him — a move that reportedly upset his biological mother.
Growing up, Eminem bounced between Detroit, Michigan and St. Joseph, Missouri, rarely staying in one place for long. But wherever he was, the support of Ronnie, Edna, and Charles gave him a sense of stability during a very unstable childhood.
