Jill Sobule, an acclaimed singer-songwriter known for her groundbreaking LGBTQ+ hit “I Kissed a Girl,” has tragically died in a house fire.
Her publicist announced her death in Woodbury, Minnesota. The cause of the fire remains unclear.
The 66-year-old’s manager, John Porter, called her “a force of nature and human rights advocate” whose “music is woven into our culture”.
He said in a statement: “I was having so much fun working with her. I lost a client and a friend today. I hope her music, memory, and legacy continue to live on and inspire others.”
White Lotus star Carrie Coon posted on social media: “Jill Sobule was so special. Heartbreaking news.”
Singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman shared a 2001 photo of herself with Jill Sobule on X, writing: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Jill Sobule. Let’s honor the incredible singer-songwriter she was by listening to her music.”
Sobule was scheduled to perform in Denver on Friday night, but the event will now serve as a tribute to her life. A formal memorial is planned for later this summer.
Throughout her three-decade career of performing and recording, the singer-songwriter released 12 albums that delved into complex themes such as the death penalty, anorexia nervosa, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ+ issues.
Her first album, “Things Here Are Different”, was released in 1990.
Five years later, she gained widespread recognition with her hit singles “Supermodel,” featured in the film Clueless, and released “I Kissed a Girl”, which, despite being banned by several southern radio stations, reached the Billboard Top 20 in the US.
In 2008, Katy Perry’s worldwide hit I Kissed A Girl – which used the same title but was not a cover version – created a renewed interest in her track.
Sobule also starred in an autobiographical off-Broadway musical featuring songs and stories about her life.
An early adopter of crowdfunding, in 2008, after two major record companies dumped her and two indie labels went bankrupt beneath her, she raised tens of thousands of dollars from fans so she could make a new album.
Sobule was born in Denver, Colorado, on 16 January 1959.
She would go on to perform with stars including Neil Young, Cyndi Lauper and Billy Bragg, and said she would “wing” her frequent live shows, never preparing a set list.
She made a cameo on an episode of The Simpsons in 2019.
In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, she said: “In a good way, I feel like I’m still a rookie. There’s so much more to do and I haven’t done my best yet.”
She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, James and Mary Ellen Sobule, as well as her nephews and cousins.