Roberta Flack Cause of Death: Legendary Singer Dies at 88

There are voices that define a generation, and then there are voices that feel like they belong to everyone. Roberta Flack’s voice was that rare kind — intimate, powerful, and unforgettable. When she died on February 24, 2025, at the age of 88, the world lost not only a Grammy-winning artist but a teacher, activist, and the woman who made “Killing Me Softly With His Song” a global anthem. This article separates the confirmed facts from the lingering questions about her illness, her family, and the career that shaped American music.

Full name: Roberta Cleopatra Flack ·
Born: February 10, 1937 ·
Died: February 24, 2025 (aged 88) ·
Cause: ALS ·
Best-known hits: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, “Killing Me Softly With His Song”

Seven key facts about Roberta Flack’s life and career give a quick overview:

What did Roberta Flack pass away from?

The announcement of her death

• Roberta Flack died on February 24, 2025, at her home in New York City, according to The New York Times (flagship U.S. newspaper).
• Her publicist confirmed the news but did not immediately specify a cause of death (NPR, public radio news organization).
• Multiple outlets later reported that Flack had been living with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) since her diagnosis in 2022 (ABC News, major U.S. television network).

What is ALS?

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord (Jackson Health, Florida health system).
• Flack announced her diagnosis in 2022 and said she could no longer sing (ABC News).
• ALS typically leads to paralysis and eventually affects breathing, but life expectancy varies widely.

The pattern: Her public battle with ALS placed a spotlight on the disease, but the lack of a disclosed immediate cause means fans and media are left to infer from her known condition. For the public, the key takeaway is that ALS, not a sudden event, was the underlying factor.

Does Roberta Flack have any children?

Roberta Flack’s son: Bernard Wright

• Roberta Flack had one child, a son named Bernard Wright (Wikipedia, community-maintained encyclopedia).
• Bernard Wright was a jazz keyboardist who performed with artists like Marcus Miller and Chaka Khan (The New York Times).
• He died in 2022, the same year Flack was diagnosed with ALS.

The implication: Her only child preceded her in death, adding a layer of personal tragedy to her final years. No other children, adopted or biological, have been publicly identified.

What was Roberta Flack’s greatest hit?

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”

• Released on her 1969 debut album First Take, the song became a massive hit after Clint Eastwood used it in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me (NPR).
• It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 and won the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1973 (The New York Times).

“Killing Me Softly With His Song”

• Her 1973 cover of the song by Lori Lieberman became an even bigger cultural phenomenon, also winning Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female (Wikipedia).
• The song was later famously covered by the Fugees in 1996, introducing it to a new generation.

The trade-off: While “Killing Me Softly” is her most streamed and covered work, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” arguably had the larger commercial and awards impact, winning the top Grammy prize. Both are equally central to her legend.

What was Roberta Flack’s net worth?

• Roberta Flack’s exact net worth has not been publicly confirmed by her estate or representatives.
• Her income came primarily from album sales, touring, publishing royalties, and licensing of her music for films and television (The New York Times).
• She also earned from her work as a music educator and occasional guest lectures.

The catch: Unlike some contemporaries, Flack never pursued major endorsement deals or brand partnerships, so her wealth remained more modest than peers with diversified portfolios. A 2025 estimate from industry trackers places the figure in the low eight-figure range, but no official figure has been released.

Where is Roberta Flack today?

Her final years and residence

• Flack spent her last years in New York City, where she lived in a Manhattan apartment (Realtor.com, real estate news site).
• She continued to be active in music education and advocacy despite her ALS diagnosis.

Death and memorial

• She died at her home on February 24, 2025 (ABC11 WTVD, Raleigh-Durham ABC affiliate).
• Public memorials have not been announced as of this writing, but her legacy is being honored through tributes from Berklee College of Music and other institutions.

Why this matters: For fans wondering where she was in her final year, the answer is quiet dignity at home, away from the stage that defined her. Her absence from public life after 2022 was due to her illness, not a desire to retreat.

Timeline

• February 10, 1937 – Born in Asheville, North Carolina (Wikipedia)
• 1950s – Attends Howard University on a music scholarship (The Hilltop Online)
• 1969 – Signs with Atlantic Records, releases debut album First Take (The New York Times)
• 1972 – “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” reaches No. 1, wins Grammy (NPR)
• 1973 – “Killing Me Softly With His Song” released, wins two Grammys (Wikipedia)
• 1990s–2010s – Continues performing, teaching, and activism (ABC News)
• 2022 – Diagnosed with ALS; announces she can no longer sing (ABC News)
• February 24, 2025 – Dies at home in New York City at age 88 (The New York Times)

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Date of death: February 24, 2025 (The New York Times)
• Cause of death linked to ALS (diagnosed 2022) (ABC News)
• One child: Bernard Wright (died 2022) (Wikipedia)
• Two Grammy Record-of-the-Year wins (NPR)

What’s unclear

• Exact net worth (estimates range from $10 million to $20 million)
• Final marriage or long-term partnership details
• Exact location of burial or memorial
• Immediate cause of death (cardiac arrest reported by one source but not independently confirmed)

“A legend that transcended generations.”

Berklee College of Music (in memoriam statement)

“Roberta Flack: Killing Me Softly singer dies aged 88.”

BBC News (headline)

“With her heart full of love and gratitude, we announce the passing of the beautiful Roberta Flack.”

Flack’s team via Instagram

For the music industry, the loss of Flack means the end of a direct link to the golden era of soul-pop. For the ALS advocacy community, her story provides a high-profile reminder of the disease’s devastating progression. For fans, the choice is clear: revisit her recordings, or risk forgetting a voice that taught America how to listen to quiet power.

The music world paid tribute to the iconic vocalist, with many fans seeking clarity on Roberta Flacks cause of death.

Frequently asked questions