Legendary pop/R&B vocalist Roberta Flack, who was launched to stardom in the early ’70s by the Grammy-winning hits “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” has died, according to a statement from her rep. No cause of death was cited; she was 88.

“We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning, February 24, 2025,” the statement reads. “She died peacefully surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”

The classically trained singer-pianist only belatedly found fame when Clint Eastwood employed her 2-year-old version of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in his 1971 directorial debut “Play Misty for Me.

The singer's death comes after her team announced in November 2022 that she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Flack was hospitalized in August 2022 for treatment. At the time, a spokesperson for Flack said the disease "has made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak."

"It will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon," the statement read. "Miss Flack plans to stay active in her musical and creative pursuits. Her fortitude and joyful embrace of music that lifted her from modest circumstances to the international spotlight remain vibrant and inspired."

Flack was a bright star in the music industry in the 1970s, releasing three No. 1 singles — "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Killing Me Softly with His Song" and "Feel Like Makin' Love" — within two years. "Killing Me Softly with His Song" was later covered by the Fugees' Lauryn Hill in the 1990s. Flack also made history as the first solo artist to win the Grammys' Record of the Year award for two consecutive years.

Roberta flack is survived by her son Bernard Wright.