Roberta Flack has died at the age of 88, her publicist has announced.
The US singer, best known for hit singles such as Killing Me Softly With His Song and The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face, died on Monday (February 24) surrounded by her family.
Publicist Elaine Schock told the PA news agency: “We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning, February 24 2025.
“She died peacefully surrounded by her family.
“Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”
In 2022, the star announced she was suffering from ALS, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and could no longer sing.
Flack first found fame in her early 30s and became an overnight success after Clint Eastwood choseThe First Time I Ever Saw Your Face for inclusion on the soundtrack to his 1971 movie, ‘Play Misty For Me’.
The track topped the US charts in 1972 (peaking at No. 14 in the UK) and saw the singer receive her first Grammy.
The following year she was awarded the Record Of The Year prize for a second time with Killing Me Softly, making her the first artist ever to land the feat in two consecutive years.
Across her decades-spanning career, Flack released 15 studio albums including her most-recent LP, ‘Let It Be: Roberta’ – a Beatles covers collection – which she released in 2012.
