Legendary pop/R&B singer Roberta Flack, best known for hits like “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” has passed away at 88. Her family confirmed her death on February 24, 2025, but no cause was given. Flack was celebrated for breaking boundaries and also for her work as an educator.

A classically trained musician, Flack rose to fame after Clint Eastwood used her version of “The First Time” in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me. She went on to achieve further success with “Killing Me Softly” and “Where Is the Love,” both of which topped the charts. Over her career, Flack scored six top-10 pop hits and ten top-10 R&B singles, often collaborating with Donny Hathaway.

Flack continued recording into the 2000s, with her last album released in 2012. She was also a Grammy winner and received 13 nominations throughout her career. Flack’s influence on soul and R&B remains enduring.