Singer Jill Sobule, renowned for her 1995 hit “I Kissed a Girl,” tragically passed away at the age of 66 in a house fire in Woodbury, Minnesota, on Thursday morning. Firefighters discovered her body after responding to the blaze, which was reported around 5:30 a.m. Sobule’s manager, John Porter, described her as a “force of nature and human rights advocate,” highlighting the cultural impact of her music.
“I Kissed a Girl” made history by reaching No. 20 on Billboard’s modern rock chart, marking it as the first openly queer-themed song to achieve such a milestone. Another significant track, “Supermodel,” featured on the “Clueless” soundtrack, solidified her status in pop culture.
In recent years, Sobule had been active in the theater scene; her coming-of-age musical “F— 7th Grade,” which debuted in 2022, received acclaim as a Drama Desk nominee for “outstanding musical” and was named a New York Times Critic Pick. She was due to perform in Denver the day after her passing, where a gathering will now be held in her memory.
The song “I Kissed a Girl” later inspired Katy Perry’s 2008 single of the same name, which Sobule clarified was not a cover. Although she experienced some backlash from Perry’s fans regarding her comments on the matter, Sobule expressed a sort of relief at no longer being solely associated with that song.
Sobule is survived by her brother James, sister-in-law Mary Ellen, and her nephews. Her contributions to music and advocacy will be remembered fondly.
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