Roberta Flack Thanked ‘Wondrous Celine Dion’ Days Before Death

Roberta Flack died on Monday at 88 but was active on social media before her passing, sharing a post dedicated to singer Celine Dion a few days ago.

The iconic singer’s publicist, Elaine Schock, confirmed her death in a statement, revealing she died at home, surrounded by her family.

Flack celebrated her 88th birthday on February 10 and expressed her appreciation to fans who wished her well.

Three days before her death, Flack shared a video of Celine Dion performing “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”

Flack originally wrote the song, which was released in 1969, and Dion performed it during her second one-off television special, “All the Way… A Decade of Song,” which was broadcast by CBS in November 1999.

Before beginning the song, Dion paid tribute to Flack, saying, “It’s a song I really love singing very much because it’s a beautiful lyric but most of all because of the spectacular singer who originally recorded it. Tonight I’d like to dedicate it to her—Roberta Flack.”

In the post’s caption, Flack thanked Dion for covering the song. She wrote, “I’m touched and thrilled to share this clip of the wondrous Celine Dion adding her luminous shine to “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”

She concluded, “Thank you Celine for your love.”

Flack turned 88 two weeks before her death and marked it with a post on her Instagram page, where she thanked her friends for celebrating her.

The legendary songstress shared an old photo of herself playing the piano during a performance.

In the post’s caption, Flack wrote, “Thank you for al the birthday love, dear friends!”

She added, “Here’s to another year full of love, music and joy.”

Many of Flack’s friends and fans took turns wishing her a happy birthday after the post. However, those birthday wishes have now turned to farewell messages and tributes following her passing.

Flack died on February 24, 2025, after several years of battling health challenges. The singer’s publicist, Elaine Schock, told CNN in a statement that she was surrounded by her family when she breathed her last at her home.

Meanwhile, in a statement per Deadline, Flack’s rep said, “We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning, February 24, 2025.”

They added, “She died peacefully surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”

In November 2022, reports revealed that Roberta Flack, famous for her evergreen song, “Killing Me Softly,” was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The condition, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, has no known cure and slowly kills the nerves conveying messages from the brain to the body’s muscles. Eventually, it affects the patient’s ability to move, talk, and breathe.

They added, “It will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon. 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 internationa spotlight remain vibrant and inspired.”

Roberta Flack rose to fame in her early 30s when Clint Eastwood featured “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in “Play Misty for Me.” The song’s quiet, emotional depth made it a hit, topping the charts in 1972 and earning a Grammy.

In 1973, she won another Grammy with “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” making history as the first artist to win consecutive Record of the Year awards. A classically trained pianist, Flack was discovered by jazz musician Les McCann, who praised her ability to stir deep emotions.

She championed civil rights, befriended activists like Jesse Jackson and Angela Davis, and performed at Jackie Robinson’s funeral. Her musical partnership with Donny Hathaway ended in tragedy when he died in 1979.

Though she never replicated her early success, she had later hits with Peabo Bryson and Maxi Priest. The Fugees’ cover of “Killing Me Softly” introduced her music to a new generation.

Flack won five Grammys and inspired artists like John Legend and serial Grammy Award winner Beyoncé. Passionate about music education, she ran a school in New York, ensuring her legacy lived on.