Eminem is celebrating a major personal milestone, marking 18 years of sobriety with a recent post on Instagram. The rapper shared a simple photo highlighting the significance of his long journey toward recovery. The rapper is known for his openness about past struggles, with the achievement reflecting years of commitment that have drawn supportive reactions from his friends and fans.
Eminem Shares A Photo Of His Sobriety Chip
On April 20, Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, shared a simple post on his social media showing off a black and gold sobriety chip with the roman numeral “XVIII,” marking 18 years of his being sober. The saying “To thine own self be true” was inscribed on the border, and the words “unity,” “service,” and “recovery” were written on the sides of a triangle. He added the caption “XVIII,” followed by a 1st place medal emoji.
Many followers congratulated the 53-year-old rapper on the remarkable milestone, with one writing, “My GOAT is 18 years sober, so happy for you unc.” One user added, “F-cking 18 years. That’s called standing the test of time in a nutshell.”
Others also shared photos of their sobriety chips, with one person sharing that Eminem motivated him. “LETS GO KING!!! Inspired me to quit when I saw you in Austin! I’m proud to be 1 YEAR SOBER!!!!”
The Rapper Had A Near-Fatal Overdose In 2007
Eminem has been open about his substance issues, and once shared that he took between 10 and 20 pills daily. “I was taking Valium, Ambien, and Vicodin. And I was taking a lot… The numbers got so high I don’t even know what I was taking,” he wrote in an essay for Vibe magazine.
The rapper had been going through personal issues leading up to his near-fatal overdose in 2007. He filed for divorce for a second time from Kim Scott the year prior, and his best friend was killed in a bar fight the following week. In December 2007, Eminem collapsed in the bathroom of his home after overdosing on methadone pills. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors said that if he had been brought in two hours later, he wouldn’t have survived.
“I didn’t even want to believe it was a disease. But I realized it when I f-cking almost died and then I still went back to using. I literally almost died,” he shared.
Eminem Detailed His Overdose In A Documentary
In 2025, the documentary “Stans” was released, which focused on the rapper’s career through the eyes of his fans. In it, Eminem shared details of his overdose, saying that he was in a “vicious” cycle of depression and popping pills. “I woke up in the hospital and I didn’t know what happened. I woke up in the hospital with tubes in me and sh-t and I couldn’t get up. I wanted to move,” he said.
One of the biggest reasons he decided to get sober was his daughter, Hailie Jade. Eminem had missed her first guitar recital due to his overdose, and he was wracked with guilt. At that moment, the rapper thought that if he couldn’t be sober for himself, he could at least do it for his daughter. He entered rehab in 2008 and has been sober since.
Elton John Helped The Rapper In His Sobriety Journey
One of the people Eminem turned to for guidance in his sobriety journey was legendary singer Elton John, who has been sober since 1990. In 2010, John said in an interview, “I’ve been helping Eminem in the last 18 months, and he is doing brilliantly,” as reported by The Guardian.
The rapper said he thought of the singer when he decided to get sober, as John was also in the entertainment business and could relate to his lifestyle. “He understands, like, the pressure and any other reasons that you wanna come up with for doing drugs,” Eminem shared.
Eminem and John first met at the 2001 Grammys when they performed “Stan” together. At that time, the rapper was criticized over lyrics that some perceived as homophobic. However, in later years, John defended the rapper, saying that he never viewed him as homophobic. The two have since developed a close bond that extends beyond their work in entertainment.
Eminem Became A Grandfather For The Second Time
His 18-year sobriety isn’t the only thing Eminem is celebrating. On April 14, the rapper’s adopted daughter, Alaina Marie Scott, gave birth to a daughter named Scottie. The birth marks Eminem’s second time becoming a grandfather in less than two years.
In March 2025, Hailie gave birth to a son named Elliot Marshall McClintok, with the middle name serving as a nod to her father.
Eminem is reportedly working on various projects, and according to his manager, Paul Rosenberg, he is developing new music. However, there has been no confirmation on when a new album will be released.
