Jill Sobule, 'I Kissed a Girl' singer, dies in house fire at 66

Jill Sobule passed away on May 1, 2025, at the age of 66, after a house fire broke out in Woodbury, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

She had been scheduled to perform the following day in her hometown of Denver, Colorado, where she was set to present songs from her autobiographical stage musical. A free memorial gathering will now be held in her honor, Star Tribune reports.

Jill Sobule in studio portrait session, 2020s (Photo: flickr.com photos wfuv)

Born on January 16, 1959, in Denver, Sobule gained national attention with her self-titled 1995 album Jill Sobule, featuring the LGBTQ-themed hit "I Kissed a Girl" — one of the first mainstream pop songs to address same-sex attraction — and "Supermodel," which was famously included on the Clueless movie soundtrack.

Known for blending irony with emotional depth, Sobule's songwriting often explored issues like anorexia, depression, the death penalty, and identity.

Her folk-pop style drew comparisons to 1970s greats such as Warren Zevon, Loudon Wainwright III, and Randy Newman.

Sobule's music carried strong autobiographical elements, including her Jewish background and battles with adolescent eating disorders.

Jill Sobule performing live on stage with guitar and mic, mid-2020s (Photo: flickr.com photos wfuv)

Over a career spanning more than three decades, she released over ten albums, wrote for television and theatre, and was an early pioneer of crowdfunding — raising $75,000 from fans in 2008 to fund her album California Years.

"She changed the conversation": Tributes from the music world

"She was a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture," said her manager John Porter. "I was having so much fun working with her. I lost a client and a friend today. I hope her music, memory, and legacy continue to live on and inspire others."

Canadian music journalist Eric Alper wrote on X: "She paved the way with heart, humour, and honesty," noting that the openly gay artist "changed the soundtrack — and the conversation."

British musician Lloyd Cole, who had collaborated with Sobule in the 1990s, shared: "I'm really too numb to post much of anything. We loved her. She loved us."

American actress Carrie Coon added: "Jill Sobule was so special. Heartbreaking news."

Jill Sobule singing live with guitar under warm stage lights, 2020s (Photo: flickr.com photos wfuv)

Beyond the charts, Sobule was a creative force in multiple media, scoring the Nickelodeon series Unfabulous, co-creating musical theater projects, and frequently collaborating with fellow musicians and writers.

Her 2000 album Pink Pearl remains a fan favorite for its deeply personal and political lyrics, tackling topics from Alzheimer's and religious extremism to female autonomy and queer identity.

Sobule's death comes just days after the passing of another music legend, Mike Peters of The Alarm, who also died at 66.

Sources: Wikipedia, BBC.