Andra Day honored Roberta Flack with a ravishing tribute efficiency of “Killing Me Softly With His Track” on the 2025 BET Awards on Monday evening (June 9).
Accompanied by a small string part and some backup singers, Day’s lilting vocals echoed all through the Peacock Theater at L.A. Dwell for her affecting cowl. “Andra Day singing a Roberta Flack tribute? Ohhhh BET performed NO video games this yr,” one individual wrote on X, whereas someone else insisted to “put it in my veins!!!!”
“Killing Me Softly With His Track” grew to become Flack’s second No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973 and gained report of the yr and finest pop vocal efficiency, feminine on the 1974 Grammy Awards. The Fugees included their very own rendition of “Killing Me Softly” on their 1996 album The Rating, and the hit single gained a Grammy in 1997 for finest R&B efficiency by a duo or group with vocal whereas the father or mother album gained the award for finest rap album.
The legendary singer and pianist died in February, and in line with a press release from her spokesperson, she “died peacefully surrounded by her household.”
The “in memoriam” tribute additionally featured former Isley Brothers member Chris Jasper, The Infamous B.I.G.’s mom Voletta Wallace, hip-hop journalist and filmmaker Sacha Jenkins, Kool & the Gang hype man Michael Sumler, Tony! Toni! Toné! founding member D’Wayne Wiggins, The Spinners lead singer John Edwards and extra.
Earlier within the night, Lucky Daye, Luke James and Miles Caton from Sinners carried out “The Secret Backyard (Candy Seduction Suite)” in the course of the Quincy Jones tribute.