Queen Latifah Opens Up About Her Late Mother—and the Gratitude Left Unspoken

When Queen Latifah speaks of her late mother, Rita Owens, her words carry a blend of reverence, grief, and unshakable admiration. Owens, who passed away in 2018 after a long battle with heart failure and scleroderma-associated lung disease, was more than just a mother to the hip-hop pioneer and Hollywood star—she was her anchor, her teacher, and her greatest source of strength. While Latifah has never explicitly said what she wished she’d told her mother before her death, her heartfelt reflections over the years reveal a longing to have expressed even deeper gratitude for the sacrifices and love that shaped her life.

A Mother’s Strength in the Face of Adversity

Rita Owens’ resilience defined her life and left an indelible imprint on her daughter. A single mother raising Latifah and her siblings after divorce, she juggled multiple jobs while instilling values of perseverance and faith. Latifah once called her a “gangsta” in an interview with ABC News—not in the sense of toughness without heart, but in admiration of her ability to meet life’s struggles with grit and dignity.

Even after her 2004 diagnosis with heart failure, later complicated by scleroderma, Owens remained undaunted. Queen Latifah recalled in a 2015 PEOPLE interview how her mother would “bounce back” from ICU stays with humor and determination. That ability to endure with grace became a guiding light for Latifah, who has often said she aspired simply “to be half the woman” her mother was.

The Encourager-in-Chief

If strength was Owens’ foundation, encouragement was her gift. She was not only Latifah’s biggest supporter—attending late-night club performances when her daughter was just 17—but also a life-shaping influence on her students during her 25 years as a high school teacher. Known affectionately as “Mrs. O.,” she treated her students with respect and dignity, often by something as simple as calling them by name.

In a 2023 POPSUGAR interview, Latifah said plainly: “I would not be where I am today” without her mother’s belief in her. The same love for hip-hop that fueled her daughter’s rise also inspired Owens to embrace Latifah’s ambitions, giving her the confidence to pursue what many at the time saw as a risky, unconventional path.

Her encouragement extended far beyond family. As Latifah told PEOPLE in 2021, her mother touched “thousands of students,” offering hope to those who felt forgotten. Owens’ ability to lift up others reflects a generosity of spirit that lives on through the careers and lives she helped to shape.

The Quiet Power of Connection

Owens’ impact wasn’t only in classrooms or at home—it radiated in every interaction. Described by her daughter as “gentle but strong, sweet but sassy, worldly but pragmatic,” she had an uncanny ability to make people feel seen. Latifah recalled in a 2020 NBC News interview that her mother could make a janitor “walk taller” after a brief conversation.

Her home was filled with African art and vibrant touches that reflected her cultured, thoughtful personality. Even in her final years, Owens’ positivity never dimmed. She carefully managed her health with a strict diet and medical treatments while inspiring Latifah to become an advocate for heart health, lending her voice to a 2016 American Heart Association PSA alongside her mother.

Gratitude Left Unspoken

Though Latifah has never revealed precisely what she wished she had told her mother, her reflections point to one theme: gratitude. In a 2018 statement to PEOPLE, she called Owens “the love of my life,” an acknowledgment of the immeasurable bond they shared. As her mother’s caregiver in her later years, Latifah performed daily acts of love—from massages to tea-making—yet has admitted the heartbreak of wishing she could have said or done more.

Her Instagram post six months after Owens’ passing, captioned simply, “I miss you So much Mommy,” captured the depth of her grief and her unspoken longing. While words may have gone unsaid, Latifah’s devotion, care, and public tributes leave no doubt about the gratitude and love she carried—and still carries—for her mother.

A Legacy That Lives On

Rita Owens’ story is one of strength, encouragement, and transformative love. Her influence continues not just in Queen Latifah’s remarkable career, but in the lives of students, fans, and communities touched by her generosity. For Latifah, her mother’s life remains a guiding force—a reminder of the power of resilience, the importance of encouragement, and the beauty of living with authenticity.

As Latifah herself has said, “My mother made me who I am.” And in honoring her, she keeps alive the gratitude that may have been left unspoken but will never be forgotten.

Would you like me to frame this article with a stronger personal profile of Latifah herself (focusing on how she carries her mother’s lessons forward), or keep it more as a tribute to Rita Owens as the centerpiece?