Jill Sobule, ‘I Kissed A Girl’ Singer, Dies In House Fire

Jill Sobule, the trailblazing singer-songwriter behind the iconic 1995 hit “I Kissed a Girl,” has died in a house fire in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was 66.

The fire reportedly broke out in the early hours of Thursday, May 1. No further details about the blaze have been made public. Sobule’s passing comes just one day before she was set to perform in Denver, Colorado, at Swallow Hill Music’s Tuft Theater. The scheduled performance, “Jill Sobule Presents: Songs From F–k 7th Grade & More,” has since been canceled, with the venue instead planning an informal tribute in her honor.

Sobule rose to fame with “I Kissed a Girl,” a landmark track widely recognized as the first openly gay-themed song to break into the Billboard Top 20. The song was celebrated not only for its catchy melody but also for its cultural significance during a time when LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream music was rare.

She further cemented her legacy with “Supermodel,” featured on the soundtrack of the beloved 1995 teen film Clueless. Throughout her three-decade career, Sobule released 12 albums, combining wit, social commentary, and heartfelt storytelling.

Several of Sobule’s colleagues have spoken out following the tragedy.

“Jill Sobule was a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture. I was having so much fun working with her. I lost a client and a friend today. I hope her music, memory, & legacy continue to live on and inspire others,” the singer’s manager, John Porter, said in a statement.

Her longtime attorney, Ken Hertz, added, “Jill wasn’t just a client. She was family to us. She showed up for every birth, every birthday, and every holiday. She performed at our daughter’s wedding, and I was her ‘tech’ when she performed by Zoom from our living room (while living with us) during the pandemic.”

Sobule’s booking agent, Craig Grossman, noted, “I was fortunate enough to get to know Jill beyond a professional relationship. No one made me laugh more. Her spirit and energy shall be greatly missed within the music community and beyond.”

Beyond her chart successes, Sobule made waves in musical theatre with her autobiographical project “F–k 7th Grade”. The Drama Desk-nominated show, known for its candid exploration of adolescence and identity, is slated to have its original cast recording released next month. Coinciding with this will be a 30th anniversary reissue of her self-titled album, featuring both “I Kissed a Girl” and “Supermodel.”

Sobule also made contributions to television, notably writing the theme song for Nickelodeon’s “Unfabulous.”

She is survived by her brother James, sister-in-law Mary, and two nephews. A formal memorial to celebrate her life and work is expected to be held later this summer.