Meet Lil Nas X's Parents: Singer Is Closer to His Dad than His Absent Mom

As a toddler, Lil Nas X's parents, Robert Stafford and Shawnita Hathaway ended their relationship. Despite spending his formative years with his mother, he no longer has a relationship with her. His father is a fervent supporter and his defender.

Lil Nas X's father, Robert Stafford, who also goes by R.L. Stafford professionally, is a gospel singer, podcaster, and television producer. He grew up in the Bankhead neighborhood of Atlanta.

Stafford appeared to take down Boosie Badazz in an October 2021 Instagram story. In the lead-up to defending his son, rapper Boosie sent off a series of tweets railing against Nas and his sexual orientation.

Who Is Lil Nas X's Dad?

Stafford and Hathaway were never married and broke up when Nas was five years old. After the split, he married and moved to the small town of Austell, Georgia. He regained custody of Nas when he was nine and his brother.

The podcaster moved his family to Lithia Springs, 30 minutes outside Atlanta, around when Nas went to high school. The gospel singer can be heard in his son's "Dead Right Now" track on the "Montero" album. He lives in Atlanta and is an avid football supporter.

According to his website, he produced the upcoming reality series, "Celebrity Mamas Check-in." The show's Facebook page does not list when it airs. Often seen with a cigar dangling from his mouth Stafford hosts the podcast "OVERFLOW, The Everyday People Show."

Who Is Lil Nas X's Mom?

After his parents split, Nas lived with his mother, Shawna Hathaway, and grandmother in Bankhead Courts, a housing project rife with gang violence and illegal substances. The rapper was close to his grandmother, whose passing in 2018 significantly impacted his life.

He acknowledged her struggle with addiction and called her a queen in all caps.

Hathaway has suffered from drug addiction for most of her adult life. The rapper mourns his grandma in his 2018 track "Carry On" and calls out his mother for lying to him. He also calls her out for not calling and only seeing him every few months.

Inside Lil Nas X's Relationship with His Parents

Nas lived with his dad and stepmom into the early years of his "Old Town Road fame." The "That's What I Want" star did not consult his fleet of managers and record executives before he came out, just his father. He spoke about how this impacted their relationship:

"We have become closer. I mean, especially now because I don't have anything to hide. It was a shock for him. It's still the beginning phase. I'm not comfortable bringing a guy around yet."

In an October 25, 2021 story, Stafford seemingly called out Boosie Badazz's hypocritical gangster rap lyrics and questioned the rapper's street credentials. Boosie hit back on Twitter within hours, mocking the proud dad for the "way his son came out."

Stafford spoke about his ex on April 16, 2021, Instagram post hashtagged 'control the narrative.' He acknowledged her struggle with addiction and called her a queen in all caps. He praised his son for taking care of them despite the complex circumstances:

"Those who have family members and friends dealing with addiction understand that there ain't enough money you can throw at this situation to make it right. I don't usually address personal issues publicly, but I felt like this need to be. Please join us in keeping her in your PRAYERS (sic)."

The "Industry Baby" star said in a 2020 profile that while he does not like to talk about his mom, there's still a lot of love there. When he succeeded with "Old Town Road," he tried to get her into rehab.

While a large section of the Christian community was put off by the satanic imagery in the music video "Montero (Call Me by Your Name,)" the gospel singer called it "creative." Nas tweeted the exchange with Stafford in March 2021 and expressed his love for him.