Tributes flood in for Roberta Flack, ‘Killing Me Softly’ singer and R&B icon

Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer best known for Killing Me Softly With His Song, has died aged 88.

Tributes have poured in for R&B icon Roberta Flack, who died today aged 88.

“We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning, February 24, 2025,” a statement from her spokesperson read.

“She died peacefully surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”

In 2022 it was announced the singer had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological condition that made it “impossible” for her to sing, according to a representative at the time.

Oprah Winfrey has thanked Roberta Flack for creating “the soundtrack to our lives” after the soul singer’s death at the age of 88.

The TV star, 71, shared a video of her welcoming the singer on to her chat show to sing hits including Killing Me Softly With His Song, written by Lori Lieberman and Norman Gimbel and composed by Charles Fox.

US songwriter Lieberman told the PA news agency that Flack “exposed this song to the world with her artistry, her talent, her innovation and her heart”.

“I do hope that now she can rest in peace… without her my little song never would have been what it is today, and I’m forever grateful,” she added.