Roberta Flack’s devastating diagnosis
<p>Roberta Flack, the legendary Grammy-winning musician and singer, has been left unable to sing after being diagnosed with ALS, a form of motor neurone disease.</p>
<p>The famed singer was diagnosed with “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a condition that causes extreme muscle weakness and in advanced stages, the inability to speak, move and breathe", her management team advised in a statement.</p>
<p>At 85 years of age the singer is reportedly having trouble speaking. She was first diagnosed with the degenerative disease last August, according to publicist Elaine Schock.</p>
<p>Flack's ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, "has made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak," her management continued in their statement.</p>
<p>There is currently no cure for ALS, with most patients requiring regular physiotherapy, speech therapy and dietetic advice upon falling ill, according to Brain Foundation Australia.</p>
<p>The singer's publicist assures, "It will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon.” According to Schock, Flack "plans to stay active in her musical and creative pursuits", despite her illness.</p>
<p>Over the course of her career, Flack has won four Grammys and received 14 nominations. She is known for a slew of hit songs including Killing Me Softly With His Song, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Feel Like Makin' Love and Where Is the Love?.</p>
<p>Flack is now reportedly gearing up for the premiere of a documentary about her life, which will take place in New York next week, and also has plans to publish a children's book in January.</p>
<p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>
