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Jill Sobule, the irreverent voice behind the 1995 queer anthem "I Kissed a Girl," has died at the age of 66 following a devastating house fire in Minneapolis. The tragedy, confirmed by her longtime manager John Porter, occurred early Thursday morning while Sobule was staying with friends, who also lost their home and pets in the blaze.
A pioneer in LGBTQ+ representation in pop music, Sobule's 1995 breakout hit was the first openly gay-themed song to reach the Billboard Top 20. "Jill Sobule was a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture," said Porter. "I lost a client and a friend today." Her passing comes just one day before she was scheduled to perform "Songs From F*ck 7th Grade & More" in Denver.
Born in Denver, Sobule released her debut album Things Here Are Different in 1990. Her eponymous follow-up in 1995 propelled her into national recognition. That same year, her track "Supermodel" gained traction after featuring in the cult film Clueless, cementing her influence on a generation.
Beyond catchy hooks, Sobule's music tackled weightier themes—capital punishment, reproductive rights, and disordered eating—long before mainstream pop embraced such discourse. "She was fearless," Craig Grossman , her booking agent,said. "No one made me laugh more."
Sobule's creativity extended into theatre, most recently with Fck 7th Grade, an autobiographical musical that became a New York Times Critic's Pick and received a Drama Desk nomination. A cast recording is slated for release on June 6, coinciding with the 30th anniversary vinyl reissue of Jill Sobule, featuring her iconic hits.
Her career spanned three decades and twelve albums. She also composed the theme for Nickelodeon's Unfabulous, showing versatility across platforms. Notably, she was among the earliest artists to crowdfund music, raising $75,000 from fans for her 2009 album California Years.
Her lawyer and close friend Ken Hertz recalled her deep personal ties: "She showed up for every birth, birthday, and wedding. During the pandemic, she lived with us and performed from our living room."
With her Denver performance now canceled, Swallow Hill Music has announced a free gathering in her honor. A formal memorial is being planned for the summer.
Jill Sobule leaves behind a legacy of courage, candor, and compassion. She is survived by her brother James, sister-in-law Mary, and three nephews. Her music, bold and unapologetic, remains a lasting voice for those once unheard.
