Jill Sobule, the trailblazing singer-songwriter best known for her witty pop anthem Supermodel and the pioneering LGBTQ hit I Kissed a Girl, has died in a tragic house fire. She was 66.
Sobule’s body was discovered on Thursday in a home in Woodbury, Minnesota. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the blaze.
Her longtime manager, John Porter, confirmed her passing in a statement to The Minnesota Star Tribune, describing Sobule as “a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture.”
“I lost a client and a friend today,” Porter said in a separate tribute to The Hollywood Reporter. “I hope her music, memory and legacy continue to live on and inspire others.”
The news came just a day before Sobule was scheduled to perform in her hometown of Denver, Colorado, showcasing songs from her autobiographical stage musical Fck 7th Grade*, which was nominated for a Drama Desk Award in 2023.
Sobule’s musical career began in earnest in 1990 with the release of her debut album Things Here Are Different, produced by Todd Rundgren. But it was her 1995 self-titled album that brought her mainstream acclaim. That record featured Supermodel, a satirical pop gem made famous by its inclusion in the cult classic teen film Clueless, and I Kissed a Girl, a bold and ahead-of-its-time single that became the first openly LGBTQ-themed song to break into the Billboard Top 20. It peaked at No. 20 in the summer of 1995.
Sobule’s version of I Kissed a Girl drew fresh attention years later when Katy Perry released a different song with the same title in 2008.
Over the course of her three-decade career, Sobule released over a dozen albums, carving a niche for herself with songs that balanced personal vulnerability, political commentary, and sharp humor. She was known for her fearless storytelling, her advocacy for human rights, and her deep connection to fans who saw themselves in her lyrics.
As tributes pour in from around the music world, fans remember Jill Sobule not only for her unforgettable songs but for her unflinching honesty and enduring spirit.
“She sang the truth, whether it made us laugh or cry,” one fan posted online. “And she did it before most dared to try.”
Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
