Roberta Flack died on February 24, 2025, at age 88, passing “peacefully surrounded by her family,” according to her spokesperson The Washington Post+3latimes.com+3hitsdailydouble.com+3. Reports cite her death due to cardiac arrest cinemablend.com+3newsweek.com+3tmz.com+3, after battling ALS in later years that eventually took her ability to sing latimes.com.
Her unforgettable voice gave the world The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Killing Me Softly, and iconic duets with Donny Hathaway. With classical training and a soul-rooted style, Flack blended jazz, folk, and R&B into something timeless. Her songs spoke intimately to the heart—and they echo still.