Latest news with #KillingMeSoftly
Vogue
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Lauryn Hill's 2025 Met Gala Look Was All About the Birkin
Stop the presses! A rare Lauryn Hill sighting had everyone talking at the 2025 Met Gala tonight. The iconic singer was on hand for the red carpet affair this evening, bringing a dash of sunshine in her sculptural yellow double-breasted suit. Paying homage to the 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' theme this year, a spotlight on Black dandyism and tailoring, Hill chose a modern suit look that was dramatic, very much avant-garde—and totally on point. Her traditional shirt and tie? 10 out of 10—no notes. Her choice of bag, meanwhile, was a total showstopper as well. Hill carried around a classic (and very luxurious) Hermès Kelly bag in cerulean blue—the ultimate status bag that offered the perfect pop of color to her look. A big Kelly in such a covetable color? It's almost as rare of a find as a splashy red carpet appearance from Hill herself! Combined, it was the most epic pairing. Now, Siri, please play 'Killing Me Softly'—because she was one of the most iconic divas of the night.
Los Angeles Times
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
After early growing pains, Kiki Iriafen has become part of USC's one-two scoring punch
Kiki Iriafen tried to play coy. But the man serenading her new USC teammates and coaches over dinner in the back room of their swanky Paris restaurant had just brought out an extra microphone. And now teammates were egging her on. She brushed them off at first. But they knew her well enough already to know she couldn't resist. So on the eve of USC's season, Iriafen stood up, grabbed the mic and joined in singing along with the Fugees' 'Killing Me Softly.' She walked the aisle, working the backroom of the restaurant as she belted it out. By the final refrain, the whole room was singing with her. It was just the sort of spotlight-stealing performance that her Trojans teammates would come to expect from the star forward over a stellar 25-2 season at USC. 'That's just unapologetically Kiki,' senior Rayah Marshall explains. And to think, when she transferred from Stanford last spring, it wasn't clear how Iriafen — a likely top-five pick in the upcoming WNBA draft — would fit with a team that already boasted one ball-dominant star in JuJu Watkins. But by late February, with the Trojans No. 4 in the country and a Big Ten title on the line Saturday against No. 2 UCLA, Iriafen had become an inextricable part of their national title pursuit — and not just for her nearly nightly double-doubles. 'Kiki brings such a joy, such an effervescence,' coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. 'We try not to take that for granted.' Stepping into the spotlight never was a problem for the perpetually sunny Iriafen. But finding where she fit at USC proved more of a process, one that took time and tested her mental toughness. It started well before that Paris trip, before she'd even committed to USC. Legendary coach Tara VanderVeer had just retired at Stanford, and Iriafen, an L.A. native and former Harvard-Westlake standout, was considering both USC and UCLA when Watkins gave her a call. The two had crossed paths many times as part of the city's hoops scene but they'd never played on the same squad. Over several conversations, they talked about their fit together and their goals. Iriafen even talked to Watkins' family. The prospect of a partnership was tempting: She'd made the Final Four as a freshman at Stanford but played just a single minute in the Cardinal's championship loss. Two years had flown by without a return trip. 'I just felt like I was still missing something,' Iriafen said. Together, Watkins and Iriafen knew they had the potential to form one of the most potent one-two punches in college basketball. They also acknowledged that would require some sacrifice. Even if neither totally understood at the time what that would look like in practice. 'The important thing was we were aligned on the same goals,' Iriafen said. 'Whatever it takes to win a national championship, whatever it takes to win, that's what we want. We both wanted that very badly. If I really cared about the extra stuff, the stats and all that stuff, I would've just stayed where I was at. But I really wanted to end my college career with a bang.' It felt seamless at first. USC teammates went out of their way to make her feel welcome. 'From the moment I got here,' Iriafen says, 'it was like, 'We want you here, we value what you say,' stuff like that.' But on the court, it was like stepping into a whole new world. The system at USC was completely different from the more rigid one she'd developed in at Stanford, where touches in the high post were regularly manufactured for her. Gottlieb's offense, by comparison, ran fewer sets with far more freedom, more pick and rolls and an improvisational flow that felt, admittedly, a bit uncomfortable at first. More was asked of Iriafen on defense too. Until USC, she'd never really been asked to guard out to the perimeter. All of the adjustments pushed Iriafen in ways that she's grateful for now. But at the time, 'there were definitely some growing pains.' The early loss to Notre Dame stands out in her mind. Iriafen accounted for 15 points — nearly 25% of USC's scoring — and pulled down nine rebounds. But she felt like she'd failed the team anyway. She came away questioning what role she was meant to play. She didn't find those answers right away. There were nights when Iriafen would put it all together, such as when she scored 30 in a win over Saint Louis. Or her stretch of four double-doubles in five games in December. But well into the season, she still didn't feel like herself. And now there were more eyes on her than ever before. 'There are so many things on social media, so many expectations you have for yourself,' Iriafen said. 'And when things aren't going the way you want them to, it's about how do you keep showing up every single day? How do you keep pouring it in and keep believing in yourself?' Those questions of fit have been an undercurrent through most of the season, for more than just Iriafen. Navigating that dynamic has required constant adjustments — and regular reassurances — from Gottlieb, who has talked at great length about managing the weight of expectations. That weight seems to have lifted since the start of February. Since USC's loss to Iowa, the Trojans have won six in a row, with a pair of top-10 wins and two more against teams in the top 25, while Iriafen has been on a tear, averaging 20 points in that stretch. The one night she looked out of sorts was in USC's win over UCLA, as Iriafen opened the game one for nine from the field. Watkins came alive in her absence, scoring 38, but it was Iriafen who helped finish off the top-ranked Bruins with nine points in the fourth quarter. 'I feel now like we're in a much better place,' she said. It also took time for Watkins to figure out how best to play off of Iriafen. 'I've never really played with a player like her before,' Watkins says. 'She's definitely raised my IQ.' What happens next for USC, with the NCAA tournament fast approaching, will hinge in no small part on Iriafen, who has shown that she can step into the spotlight when the moment calls for it. The video evidence played over the Galen Center jumbotron for all to see last week, as Iriafen's Paris performance rang out over the loudspeaker during Senior Day speeches. It was a perfect moment to encapsulate what she'd brought to USC. 'I think her WNBA career is not in jeopardy,' Gottlieb said of that performance. 'But we loved it.'
USA Today
25-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Apple Manufacturing Company coming to Detroit
Hear this story Good morning, today is Tuesday. ⛅ Weather: Today's expected high is 48 degrees with a passing morning shower or two and periods of clouds and sunshine in the afternoon. 🎧 Prefer to listen to the news? Here are today's top stories. 😊 Like our work? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access. Apple is making its presence known in Detroit with the recent announcement of an Apple Manufacturing Academy coming to the city later this year. While an exact location has not been confirmed, the academy is expected to offer free in-person and online courses, with a skills development curriculum in areas such as manufacturing process optimization and project management, writes JC Reindl. Companies will also be helped to transition to advanced manufacturing, the announcement said. Here's more in this story. 📰Related: Apple confirms on website downtown Detroit is getting Apple Store Also worth reading 📰 News: A 50-year-old IT manager struck a patriotic theme as he declared his candidacy for Dearborn mayor, saying he will focus his campaign on fighting crime, flooding and drug addiction, writes Niraj Warikoo. 🖊️ Opinion: Guest columnist and former WDIV news anchor Devin Scillian writes about what it means to be "all in" and Donald Trump's supporters. 📺 Television: Lester Holt, 65, will step down as anchor of the nightly news program after a decade, he announced Monday. He's set to move to a full-time role as anchor for NBC's "Dateline." ⏰ Keep in mind: The annual return to Daylight Saving Time in Michigan is March 9, bringing with it late evening sunshine that gets people out of the house. Here's what you need to know. 🕯️In memoriam: Roberta Flack, Grammy-winning singer of hit 'Killing Me Softly,' has died. She was 88. Thanks for starting your morning with us. Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access. Obituaries | Podcasts
New York Times
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Quote of the Day: A Majestic Chart-Topper Who Thrilled Us Softly
'The thing that engulfs me in music is the pulse. If I can find that heartbeat, I can live in there — in that music.' ROBERTA FLACK, a former teacher who became a singer and pianist and was one of the most successful artists in the 1970s with songs like 'Killing Me Softly' and 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.' She died on Monday at age 88.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Roberta Flack's Last Post Before Passing Was A Special Tribute To Celine Dion
Roberta Flack died on Monday at 88 but was active on social media before her passing, sharing a post dedicated to singer Celine Dion a few days ago. The iconic singer's publicist, Elaine Schock, confirmed her death in a statement, revealing she died at home, surrounded by her family. Flack celebrated her 88th birthday on February 10 and expressed her appreciation to fans who wished her well. Three days before her death, Flack shared a video of Celine Dion performing "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." Flack originally wrote the song, which was released in 1969, and Dion performed it during her second one-off television special, "All the Way... A Decade of Song," which was broadcast by CBS in November 1999. Before beginning the song, Dion paid tribute to Flack, saying, "It's a song I really love singing very much because it's a beautiful lyric but most of all because of the spectacular singer who originally recorded it. Tonight I'd like to dedicate it to her—Roberta Flack." In the post's caption, Flack thanked Dion for covering the song. She wrote, "I'm touched and thrilled to share this clip of the wondrous Celine Dion adding her luminous shine to "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." She concluded, "Thank you Celine for your love." Flack turned 88 two weeks before her death and marked it with a post on her Instagram page, where she thanked her friends for celebrating her. The legendary songstress shared an old photo of herself playing the piano during a performance. In the post's caption, Flack wrote, "Thank you for al the birthday love, dear friends!" She added, "Here's to another year full of love, music and joy." Many of Flack's friends and fans took turns wishing her a happy birthday after the post. However, those birthday wishes have now turned to farewell messages and tributes following her passing. Flack died on February 24, 2025, after several years of battling health challenges. The singer's publicist, Elaine Schock, told CNN in a statement that she was surrounded by her family when she breathed her last at her home. Meanwhile, in a statement per Deadline, Flack's rep said, "We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning, February 24, 2025." They added, "She died peacefully surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator." In November 2022, reports revealed that Roberta Flack, famous for her evergreen song, "Killing Me Softly," was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The condition, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, has no known cure and slowly kills the nerves conveying messages from the brain to the body's muscles. Eventually, it affects the patient's ability to move, talk, and breathe. A spokesperson for Flack's family told People Magazine at the time that the disease, which she was diagnosed with in August 2022, "has made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak." They added, "It will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon. Miss Flack plans to stay active in her musical and creative pursuits. Her fortitude and joyful embrace of music that lifted her from modest circumstances to the internationa spotlight remain vibrant and inspired." Roberta Flack rose to fame in her early 30s when Clint Eastwood featured "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" in "Play Misty for Me." The song's quiet, emotional depth made it a hit, topping the charts in 1972 and earning a Grammy. In 1973, she won another Grammy with "Killing Me Softly With His Song," making history as the first artist to win consecutive Record of the Year awards. A classically trained pianist, Flack was discovered by jazz musician Les McCann, who praised her ability to stir deep emotions. She championed civil rights, befriended activists like Jesse Jackson and Angela Davis, and performed at Jackie Robinson's funeral. Her musical partnership with Donny Hathaway ended in tragedy when he died in 1979. Though she never replicated her early success, she had later hits with Peabo Bryson and Maxi Priest. The Fugees' cover of "Killing Me Softly" introduced her music to a new generation. Flack won five Grammys and inspired artists like John Legend and serial Grammy Award winner Beyoncé. Passionate about music education, she ran a school in New York, ensuring her legacy lived on.
