Rapper Lil Nas X is grieving the death of his mother, Tameka Hill. The artist, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, announced his mother's passing on Instagram.
"RIP TO THE BADDEST EVER! LOVE U FOREVER MOMMY. this one’s gonna hurt. 🥹🥹," Lil Nas X wrote on Saturday, sharing three photographs of Hill.
The rapper, 27, has spoken openly about his complicated relationship with his mother, who has struggled with addiction. In a 2020 interview, Lil Nas X stated, "I never really talk about my mom. She’s an addict so we don’t have the closest relationship. Even trying to get her better — things didn’t quite work out. But there’s still love."
His announcement comes as Lil Nas X continues his own sobriety journey. He completed an inpatient treatment program in late 2025 for undisclosed issues and has been candid about his mental health. Last June, he revealed his diagnosis of bipolar disorder, sharing that he had been in treatment and was working with a therapist and psychiatrist.
"I’m already Black and gay. Like, ‘Damn, God.’ Black, gay, bipolar. I’m like living life on like extreme hard mode," he said in a social media update, though he added that he was feeling "much better" and "creating freely."
Lil Nas X's parents divorced when he was five years old. He lived with his grandmother before his father gained custody when he was nine.
In April, a California judge granted the artist entry into a mental health diversion program following an arrest in which he allegedly punched a police officer. Lil Nas X pleaded not guilty to the charges.
For those affected by issues related to substance abuse or mental health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Helpline can be reached at 800-662-4357.