Flack can no longer sing due to ALS
A representative for Roberta Flack announced Monday that the Grammywinning 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. “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 featurelength documentary debuting Thursday at the DOC NYC film festival.
Flack is known for hits such as “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face.” The release says that the singer and pianist, 85, “plans to stay active in her musical and creative pursuits” through her eponymous foundation and other avenues.
The documentary will be available via DOC NYC’s website for a week after its premiere, 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.
Swift nabs 4 wins at MTV EMAs:
Taylor Swift won big at Sunday’s MTV Europe Music Awards. Swift who led the nominations along with Harry Styles with seven a piece, walked away with four wins including for best artist, best video and best longform video.
Swift made a surprise appearance at the awards in Dusseldorf, Germany, to collect her haul. Accepting her first award of the night she said “the fans are the only reason any of this happens for me.”
An absent Nicki Minaj also came out on top with a trio of prizes for best song, best hip-hop and a category called super freaky girl. Styles won for best live performance.
Actor Aniston dies: John Aniston, the Emmywinning actor and father of actor Jennifer Aniston, has died at age 89. His daughter posted a tribute to him Monday on Instagram, announcing that he had died Friday, Veterans Day. John Aniston served in the U.S. Navy.
“You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew,” Jennifer Aniston wrote. “I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace — and without pain. And on 11/11 no less! You always had perfect timing. That number will forever hold an even greater meaning for me now.”
John Aniston was best known for his long-running role on the daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives” as family patriarch Victor Kiriakis. Earlier this year, he was presented a lifetime achievement Emmy.
‘Wakanda Forever’ scores 2nd biggest debut of year:
The Marvel sequel “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” earned $180 million in ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada, according to estimates Sunday from the Walt Disney Co., making it the second biggest opening of the year behind “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” which opened to $185 million. Overseas, “Wakanda Forever” brought in $150 million, making its worldwide total $330 million.
Nov. 15 birthdays: Singer Petula Clark is 90. Actor Sam Waterston is 82. Journalist John Roberts is 66. Guitarist Kevin Eubanks is 65. Actor Rachel True is 56. Actor Jonny Lee Miller is 50. Actor Sydney Tamiia Poitier is 49. Singer Chad Kroeger is 48. Actor Sean Murray is 45. Rapper B.o.B is 34. Actor Shailene Woodley is 31.