Roberta Flack, 85, announces she now has ALS and can no longer sing: Rep says it is 'impossible' for the Grammy-winning star to perform
- Roberta Flack announced Monday that she has ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and can no longer sing
- A rep for the 85-year-old performer said the progressive disease 'has made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak'
- The announcement of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis comes just ahead of the premiere of Roberta, a feature-length documentary
- Flack is known for hits like Killing Me Softly With His Song and The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
A representative for Roberta Flack announced Monday that the Grammy-winning musician has ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and can no longer sing.
The progressive disease 'has made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak,' Flack's manager Suzanne Koga said in a release, adding: 'But it will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon.'
The announcement of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis comes just ahead of the premiere of Roberta, a feature-length documentary debuting Thursday at the DOCNYC film festival.
Flack is known for hits like Killing Me Softly With His Song and The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face, the latter of which catapulted her into stardom after Clint Eastwood used it as the soundtrack for a love scene in his 1971 movie Play Misty for Me.
![Roberta Flack, 85, announces she now has ALS and can no longer sing: Rep says it is 'impossible' for the Grammy-winning star to perform](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/14/21/64541197-11426769-FILE_Singer_Roberta_Flack_poses_for_a_portrait_in_New_York_on_Oc-a-5_1668459660869.jpg)
Roberta Flack, 85, announces she now has ALS and can no longer sing: Rep says it is 'impossible' for the Grammy-winning star to perform
The release says that the Grammy-winning singer and pianist, now 85, 'plans to stay active in her musical and creative pursuits' through her eponymous foundation and other avenues.
The Antonino D'Ambrosio-directed documentary will be in competition at the festival and available via DOCNYC's website for a week after, before airing on television Jan. 24 as part of PBS' American Masters series.
Flack also plans to publish a children's book co-written with Tonya Bolden, "The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music," that month.
The North Carolina-born, Virginia-raised Flack is the daughter of pianists and classically trained herself - her talent won her a full ride to Howard University at just 15.
![Iconic record: Roberta Flack holds the Grammy award for her record, "Killing Me Softly With His Song" at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, 1974](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/14/21/64541193-11426769-FILE_In_this_March_4_1974_file_photo_Roberta_Flack_holds_the_Gra-a-7_1668459660874.jpg)
Iconic record: Roberta Flack holds the Grammy award for her record, "Killing Me Softly With His Song" at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, 1974
![Star: The singer is seen at the Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in 2020, in Beverly Hills](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/14/21/64541195-11426769-FILE_Roberta_Flack_arrives_at_the_Pre_Grammy_Gala_And_Salute_To_-a-6_1668459660870.jpg)
Star: The singer is seen at the Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in 2020, in Beverly Hills
"I have long dreamed of telling my story to children about that first green piano that my father got for me from the junkyard in the hope that they would be inspired to reach for their dreams," Flack was quoted in the release.
"I want them to know that dreams can come true with persistence, encouragement from family and friends, and most of all belief in yourself."
The documentary's television debut and book's publication kick off 2023, which also will see the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of her fourth album, "Killing Me Softly," with a reissue.
Her label for the first three decades of her career, Atlantic Records, is also celebrating its 75th anniversary.
Flack had a stroke in 2016 and spoke to The Associated Press a little over two years later about returning to performing.
When asked if she´d sing one of her old hits at a then-upcoming event, she quickly retorted: "There´s no such thing as an old hit," preferring the term "classic" instead.
"I could sing any number of songs that I´ve recorded through the years, easily, I could sing them, but I´m going to pick those songs that move me," Flack said. "Now that´s hard to do. To be moved, to be moved constantly by your own songs."
![Fighting back: Flack's manager Suzanne Koga said in a release: 'It will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon.'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/14/21/64541199-11426769-FILE_Singer_Roberta_Flack_poses_for_a_portrait_in_New_York_on_Oc-a-8_1668459661067.jpg)
Fighting back: Flack's manager Suzanne Koga said in a release: 'It will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon.'
Most watched News videos
- Moment of 'Ukrainian kamikaze drone attack' on Moscow building
- Moment 'drunk' Brit and his wife are hauled off Ryanair flight
- Trump upset by Putin's endorsement of Kamala Harris
- Knife-wielding break-in suspect chases local after being confronted
- MPs in Commons react to plan to means test winter fuel payments
- Princess Kate mirrors the late Queen driving in candid recovery video
- Germany implements temporary border controls to combat migration
- 'Respect to him': Ex-convict praises Starmer after early release
- Prisoner on early release from Wandsworth is sprayed with champagne
- First prisoners leave HMP Wandsworth under early release scheme
- 'I'm on a bench tonight': Former convict prefers prison over freedom
- Cabinet minister blames Conservatives for lack of prison capacity