Lil Nas X's mother, who struggled with addiction, has passed away
Lil Nas X, who recently completed a rehabilitation program following a health crisis, has announced the death of his mother, Tamika Hill. The rapper has long been open about their complex relationship, which was deeply affected by her lifelong struggle with substance abuse.
Lil Nas X has announced the death of his mother, Tamika Hill, while he continues his own recovery process following a period in a rehabilitation center, according to the Daily Mail. The 27-year-old rapper shared a tribute on Instagram this Saturday, though he did not disclose the cause of death.
"Rest in peace... Love you forever, mom," wrote Lil Nas X. "This is going to hurt."
Alongside the message, he posted three photos: a past image of Hill, a photo of the two of them wearing sunglasses, and a childhood picture featuring his mother and one of his brothers.
Lil Nas X has previously spoken about his complex relationship with his mother, which was largely defined by her struggle with drug addiction. In a 2020 interview with Variety, he noted: "I never really talk about my mom. She's an addict, so we don't have the closest relationship. Even when I tried to help her get better, things didn't really work out. But there is still love."
The news of her passing comes just days after Lil Nas X, born Montero Lamar Hill, confirmed in a social media video that he had spent several months in rehab.
"I was in rehab for a few months," he said. "And since then I've returned home—whether it's in Atlanta with my family or in Los Angeles alone and with friends—and I'm trying to ground myself and get out of my head."
In August 2025, Lil Nas X was arrested following a public mental health crisis in Los Angeles, which led to his hospitalization, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and a court-supervised treatment plan.
"I have a therapist and a psychiatrist now, and it really helped. When I got the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, I felt like I had known it for a few years, but I didn't want to admit it because I didn't want to take medication and have people think of me differently," he explained.
The August 2025 arrest occurred after he was reportedly found wandering on Ventura Boulevard in Los Angeles wearing only underwear and cowboy boots. The encounter with police escalated, and Lil Nas X was charged with using force and violence, resulting in injuries to three officers. He was subsequently hospitalized due to concerns regarding a potential overdose.
Lil Nas X has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to charges including assaulting an officer and resisting arrest. By March, he was seen arriving at court looking healthier and in good spirits. In April, Judge Allen Schneider ruled that he could undergo treatment instead of serving jail time, stating that the August 2025 incident was an anomaly linked to his bipolar disorder diagnosis.
