Jill Sobule, 'I Kissed a Girl' singer, passes away in tragic house fire at 66

Jill Sobule, the singer-songwriter best known for her groundbreaking hit 'I Kissed a Girl', has sadly passed away in a house fire in Minneapolis. She was 66 years old. Her manager, John Porter, confirmed the news, calling her “a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture.”
Sobule’s demise has left fans and fellow musicians heartbroken. “I was having so much fun working with her. I lost a client and a friend today,” Porter told to Variety. “I hope her music, memory, & legacy continue to live on and inspire others.”
Breaking Boundaries with 'I Kissed a Girl'
Released in 1995, 'I Kissed a Girl' was one of the first openly lesbian-themed songs to break into the Billboard top 20. Its honest and playful lyrics helped open doors for LGBTQ+ voices in mainstream pop music.
Jill Sobule often reflected on the impact of her song ‘Kissed a Girl’ and its place in the cultural landscape. Speaking to the Philadelphia Gay News in 2021, she recalled, “[When] I got my record deal and I was sitting in a conference room getting ready to have the first big meeting… they said, ‘We’ve already had Tracy Chapman and Melissa Etheridge. Thank God we finally have a straight, female singer-songwriter.’ It freaked me out.” She added, “When ‘Kissed a Girl’ came out… it was treated like a novelty. For me, I wanted it out… I wish I’d heard [it] when I was young.”
While the title was later made more famous by Katy Perry’s 2008 hit, Sobule’s original version was praised for its heartfelt, folk-pop charm and meaningful message. It reached number 20 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and has remained an important part of queer music history.
Jill Sobule’s 1995 self-titled album also featured the cheeky track 'Supermodel', which became popular after being featured on the 'Clueless' movie soundtrack. The song poked fun at beauty standards and teenage pressures, quickly becoming a cult favourite.
Sarah Thyre, who worked with Sobule on various projects, shared her grief on Instagram, “This one hits hard. Jill Sobule was an amazing, generous artist who lent her time and talent to abortion rights and other progressive causes.”