Singer Roberta Flack Diagnosed with ALS, Can No Longer Sing

Grammy-winning singer Roberta Flack, whose hits include "Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “First Time I Ever Saw Your Face”, has been diagnosed with the progressive disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and can no longer sing.

“ALS has made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak, but it will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon,” a statement from her publicists said on Monday. 

The progressive disease breaks down nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that make muscles work, leading to progressive paralysis and death.

The veteran singer, 85, plans to stay active in her musical and creative pursuits through her eponymous foundation.

A documentary, "Roberta," is set to debut at the DOC NYC film festival next week. 

The documentary is directed by Antonino D’Ambrosio and focuses on Flack’s life. It will compete at the festival and will air on television in the United States on Jan. 24 as part of PBS’s "American Masters" series.

In January, Flack also is publishing a children’s book, "The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music". 

The book, co-written by Tonya Bolden, focuses on Flack’s life and highlights how she was raised by pianists and received a full-ride scholarship to Howard University at just 15 years old.

Flack has faced health problems in the past. In 2016, she suffered from a stroke.

Flack has earned 14 Grammy nominations and taken home four wins in her multi-decade career. She won four Grammys and was honored with a lifetime achievement award in 2020.

The singer had several No. 1 hits in the 1970s and produced 20 studio albums. Some of her other most popular songs include "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "The Closer I Get to You" and "Where is the Love."

She also was the first artist to win two consecutive records of the year trophies in 1973 for “First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” and in 1974 for “Killing Me Softly with His Song”.