Jill Sobule, the beloved American singer and songwriter best known for her groundbreaking song “I Kissed a Girl”, has sadly passed away at the age of 66. Her death was confirmed following a house fire in Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to her publicist.
A Trailblazer in Music and LGBTQ+ Representation
Jill Sobule was a musical pioneer. Her 1995 hit “I Kissed a Girl” is considered one of the first openly gay-themed songs to reach the Billboard Top 20. At a time when such topics were rarely heard in mainstream music, Jill used her voice and platform to challenge norms and celebrate diversity.
Key Milestones in Her Career:
Debut and Breakthrough: Sobule gained major attention in the mid-1990s with her self-titled album, Jill Sobule (1995), which featured:
“I Kissed a Girl”
“Supermodel”, famously featured in the teen film Clueless (1995)
Diverse Songwriting Themes: Her lyrics often touched on:
LGBTQ+ rights
The death penalty
Anorexia
Social justice issues
Innovator in Crowdfunding: Sobule was among the first artists to successfully use crowdfunding to produce and release her music independently.
Work in TV and Theatre: She wrote the theme song for Nickelodeon’s Unfabulous and contributed to various theatre productions.
Planned Performance Cancelled
Sobule had been scheduled to perform in her hometown of Denver, Colorado, on Friday. The concert was meant to debut songs from her autobiographical stage musical. Instead, a free public gathering will be held to honour her memory.
Heartfelt Tributes from Across the Globe
Jill’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and admiration from fellow musicians, actors, and fans.
Notable Tributes:
Lloyd Cole, British musician:
“I’m really too numb to post much of anything. We loved her. She loved us.”
Eric Alper, Canadian music correspondent:
“She paved the way with heart, humour, and honesty… She changed the soundtrack – and the conversation.”
Carrie Coon, American actress:
“Jill Sobule was so special. Heartbreaking news.”
John Porter, her long-time manager, described her as:
“A force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture… I lost a client and a friend today.”
Ongoing Police Investigation
The cause of the house fire is still under investigation by police in Woodbury, a suburb of Minneapolis. No further details have been confirmed at this stage.
Remembering Jill Sobule’s Legacy
Jill Sobule wasn’t just a singer. She was a voice for the voiceless, a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ visibility, and an artist who never shied away from tough subjects.
Her legacy will live on through her music, her fans, and the many artists she inspired.
Sources:
Statements via publicist and social media platforms (X, formerly Twitter)