- Friday, May 02, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Jill Sobule, the acclaimed singer-songwriter known for her groundbreaking 1995 hit “I Kissed a Girl”, has tragically died in a house fire at the age of 66. Her manager confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter, stating that Sobule was staying with friends in a Minneapolis suburb when the fire broke out early on the morning of May 1, 2025. The cause of the fire has not yet been disclosed.
Sobule made waves in the mid-90s music scene with “I Kissed a Girl”, a song that became the first openly gay-themed track to enter the Billboard Top 20. Released more than a decade before Katy Perry’s song of the same name, Sobule’s version was praised for its witty lyrics, acoustic pop sound, and its honest portrayal of same-sex attraction — a rarity in mainstream music at the time.
Her manager, John Porter, paid tribute to her, calling her “a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture.” He added, “I was having so much fun working with her. I lost a client and a friend today.”
Beyond her biggest hit, Sobule had a vibrant career that spanned over 30 years. She released 12 studio albums, often tackling complex and socially relevant issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, the death penalty, anorexia, and reproductive freedom. Her song “Supermodel” gained popularity as part of the Clueless film soundtrack, further embedding her in 90s pop culture.
Sobule was also a touring artist who performed alongside music legends such as Neil Young, Billy Bragg, and Cyndi Lauper. In 2008, she broke new ground again by embracing the crowdfunding model to produce an album — a method that would later become a common route for independent artists.
In recent years, Sobule co-wrote and starred in the autobiographical stage musical Fuck 7th Grade, which received multiple stagings and was praised for its emotional honesty and humor.
Jill Sobule is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, James and Mary Ellen Sobule, as well as nephews and extended family. Her legacy endures through her music, activism, and the barriers she broke for LGBTQ+ voices in the music industry.
Her passing is not only a loss to fans but a profound reminder of the impact one artist can have on culture and identity.
