Rapper and pop artist Lil Nas X has announced the death of his mother, Tameka Hill, as he continues his own treatment and recovery journey following a stay in rehab.
The 27-year-old two-time Grammy Award winner took to Instagram on Saturday to pay tribute to his mother, posting a series of throwback photographs alongside an emotional message.
"RIP TO THE BADDEST EVER! LOVE U FOREVER MOMMY," the musician wrote. "This one's gonna hurt."
The post included three images: a throwback picture of Hill posing in a flashy two-piece outfit while holding a bottle, a second photograph showing Lil Nas X with his mother as both wore sunglasses, and a childhood shot of the rapper with his mother and one of his several siblings.
No immediate cause of death was given for Hill. Representatives for Lil Nas X did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Mail.
Strained relationship and past addiction struggles
Lil Nas X has previously spoken publicly about his mother's long-term struggles with substance addiction and their strained relationship. He shared in past interviews that he had previously tried to get her into rehab without success.
In a January 2020 interview with Variety, the performer opened up about their bond and his efforts to help her.
"I never really talk about my mom. She's an addict, so we don't have the closest relationship," Lil Nas X told Variety at the time. "Even trying to get her better - things didn't quite work out. But there's still love."
Rehab update and mental health diagnosis
The news of his mother's death comes just days after the "That's What I Want" chart-topper shared a video update on social media confirming he had spent several months in rehab.
"I've been in rehab for a few months," he said in the video message. "And since then I've been back at home - whether it's in Atlanta with my family or in Los Angeles with myself and friends and whatnot - and trying to ground myself down to earth and get out of my head."
Lil Nas X, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, was arrested in August 2025 following a public mental health crisis in Los Angeles. The incident led to an inpatient rehab stay, a court-supervised treatment plan, and a bipolar disorder diagnosis.
Speaking about his health, the rapper explained that receiving the diagnosis helped him better understand his experiences, though he initially resisted medical intervention.
"I have a therapist now and a psychiatrist, which has been really helpful," he shared. "When I got my bipolar disorder diagnosis, I feel like I had known for the past few years, but I didn't wanna admit to it, 'cause I didn't wanna have to take medication and have people think different of me."
"I'm already black and gay. Like, damn, God, gimme like...come on, black, gay, bipolar? I'm living life on extreme hard mode," he added with a laugh.
He assured his fanbase, known as the "Montourage," that he was "doing much better" and "smelling the roses" while working on new music.
He also joked about the supportive reactions he has received from fans since leaving treatment.
"Ever since I got out of rehab, everyone's like 'OD' nice to me," he said. "I could be like 'hey' and everyone's like 'oh he's so brave'. I can try to post a thirst trap on my Instagram story and everyone's going to be like 'keep fighting king'."
In an earlier video post, the musician held a cake decorated with the words "10,000th day" to mark the milestone.
"Tomorrow is my 10,000th day alive and I made it. A lot of you won't make it, but I made it," he told followers in the clip.
Legal resolution following Los Angeles arrest
The rapper's August 2025 arrest occurred after police spotted him wandering down Los Angeles' Ventura Boulevard wearing only his underwear and cowboy boots.
Prosecutors alleged that the encounter turned chaotic, accusing Lil Nas X of using "force and violence [to] inflict an injury" on three police officers. He was subsequently rushed to the hospital over concerns he may have suffered an overdose.
Lil Nas X denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to charges including battery on an officer and resisting arrest. In March, he arrived at court in Los Angeles smiling and wearing a three-piece gray suit.
In April, Judge Alan Schneider ruled that the "Old Town Road" hitmaker could complete treatment rather than serving time behind bars, allowing him to avoid a potential five-year prison sentence.
Judge Schneider told the court that the August 2025 incident was "aberrant from his normal conduct" and linked the event to the rapper's bipolar disorder diagnosis.
