Singer Jill Sobule, Pioneer Behind 1995's "I Kissed a Girl," Dies Tragically in House Fire at 66
Jill Sobule, whose 1995 hit "I Kissed a Girl" broke barriers as the first openly gay-themed song to reach Billboard's Top 20, died in a Minneapolis house fire on Thursday morning. She was 66.
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Photo Credit: Jill Sobule for Uncensored Interview / CC by 2.0
Born in Denver in 1959, Sobule began her music career with her Todd Rundgren-produced debut album "Things Here Are Different" in 1990. She gained widespread recognition with Atlantic Records in 1995, releasing hits like "I Kissed a Girl" and "Supermodel," the latter featuring in the film "Clueless."
A pioneering artist in crowdfunding, Sobule raised $75,000 in 2008 to independently release "California Years" (2009). She continued this successful model with her "Nostalgia Kills" album release in 2019.
Her recent work included the autobiographical musical "Fuck 7th Grade," which received a Drama Desk nomination and had four successful theatrical runs. The original cast recording was scheduled for release on June 6.
"Jill Sobule was a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture," said her manager, John Porter. Her attorney, Ken Hertz, added, "Jill wasn't just a client. She was family to us."
A formal memorial celebrating her life is planned for this summer. Tonight's scheduled performance at Denver's Swallow Hill Music's Tuft Theatre will be replaced by an informal gathering hosted by Ron Bostwick from 105.5 FM.
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