{"id":909,"date":"2025-02-24T14:39:28","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T15:39:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/?p=909"},"modified":"2025-02-26T18:37:48","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T18:37:48","slug":"killing-me-softly-singer-roberta-flack-honoured-by-oprah-winfrey-after-death-at-88","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/24\/killing-me-softly-singer-roberta-flack-honoured-by-oprah-winfrey-after-death-at-88\/","title":{"rendered":"Killing Me Softly singer Roberta Flack honoured by Oprah Winfrey after death at 88"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Grammy-winning singer Roberta Flack has died at the age of 88 (Picture: Paul Natkin\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Singer Roberta Flack, known for the hit Killing Me Softly, has died at the age of 88, it has been confirmed, with the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Celine Dion paying tribute.<\/p>\n

The Grammy-winner and R&B legend was first catapulted to stardom in the early 1970s with tunes such as The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.<\/p>\n

In her early 30s at the time, Flack achieved stardom practically overnight when Clint Eastwood used the ballad as the soundtrack for an explicit scene starring Donna Mills in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me.<\/p>\n

Following this, the tune reached number one on the Billboard chart and received a Grammy for record of the year.<\/p>\n

Then, in 1973, her success continued, as Flack became the first-ever artist to win best record twice consecutively, thanks to Killing Me Softly.<\/p>\n

While her representative announced the sad news of her death, no cause has been given.<\/p>\n

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Flack announced in 2022 that she had ALS (Picture: Brian Stukes\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

‘We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning, February 24, 2025,’ publicist Elaine Schock’s statement read.<\/p>\n

She added that she ‘died peacefully surrounded by her family.’<\/p>\n

‘Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.’<\/p>\n

Veteran radio DJ Tony Blackburn was among those paying tribute to Flack after the news broke.<\/p>\n

‘How sad that Roberta Flack has passed away at the age of 88,’ he wrote on X alongside a photo of the US singer.<\/p>\n

Celine Dion said in a social media post on Tuesday: ‘With a heavy heart we have to say goodbye to Roberta Flack.<\/p>\n

‘She was a legend, with a voice that could soothe and stir all at once\u2026 Her music wasn\u2019t just heard\u2014it was FELT.<\/p>\n

‘With timeless songs like Killing Me Softly With His Song, and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face she gifted us music that has shaped generations.’<\/p>\n

Dion said that singing the latter ‘was such an incredible honour’ and added: ‘Stepping into the world Roberta created with such grace and beauty. Thank you for sharing your remarkable gift with us.’<\/p>\n

US singer and actress Jennifer Hudson also hailed Flack as ‘one of the great soul singers of all time’.<\/p>\n

‘So sad to hear of Roberta Flack\u2019s passing,’ the Grammy-winning artist wrote in an Instagram tribute post alongside a black-and-white photo.<\/p>\n

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