Robin Roberts is honoring a legend. The Good Morning America anchor and producer is developing a scripted biopic and companion documentary centered on the life and legacy of Grammy-winning icon Roberta Flack, the unmistakable voice behind classics like ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song’ and ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.’
READ: Roberta Flack, Legendary R&B Songstress Behind ‘Killing Me Softly,’ Dies at 88
Through her Rock’n Robin Productions banner, Roberts has secured Flack’s life rights and is working closely with her longtime managers, Suzanne Mina Koga and Joan Martin, to bring both projects to life.
Flack’s story is one of talent, timing, and truth. Born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, she was a musical prodigy — earning a scholarship to Howard University at just 15 years old and later captivating audiences at Washington, D.C.’s Mr. Henry’s nightclub, where jazz great Les McCann discovered her. That moment led to a deal with Atlantic Records, and soon after, Clint Eastwood featured her haunting rendition of ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ in his film Play Misty for Me — turning Flack into a household name.
A four-time Grammy winner, Flack made history as the first solo artist ever to win Record of the Year twice in a row, defining an era with her effortless blend of soul, jazz, and classical grace.
Roberts, whose company has produced projects like Hurricane Katrina: 20 Years After The Storm with Robin Roberts (ABC/Hulu), A King Like Me (Netflix), and I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story (Lifetime), called the opportunity to celebrate Flack’s story a personal honor.
“Roberta was a trailblazer — powerful and purposeful with her music and intention,” Roberts said. “From the first note of every song, you feel Roberta’s tender heart and powerful soul through the microphone. She taught us that the softest voice can carry the deepest truth.”
Flack passed away earlier this year, but her influence continues to echo through generations of artists. This upcoming film and documentary promise to not only revisit her groundbreaking career, but also remind audiences of the quiet strength that shaped her timeless sound.