Jill Sobule, the award-winning singer-songwriter best known for her 1995 hit I Kissed a Girl, died on Thursday in a house fire in Woodbury, Minnesota. She was 66. The news was confirmed by her publicist, David Elkin, in an email. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
“Jill Sobule 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 & a friend today. I hope her music, memory, & legacy continue to live on and inspire others.”
Sobule released 12 albums over a career spanning more than three decades, addressing themes including the death penalty, anorexia, and LGBTQ+ rights. Her breakthrough came with Supermodel on the Clueless soundtrack and I Kissed a Girl, which reached the Billboard Top 20.
She was a pioneer in crowdfunding music, raising tens of thousands of dollars in 2008 to independently produce an album.
A scheduled performance in Denver has been replaced by a gathering where fans are invited to “share a story or song,” according to her publicist.
“No one made me laugh more. Her spirit and energy shall be greatly missed within the music community and beyond,” said booking agent Craig Grossman.
Sobule is survived by her brother, James, sister-in-law Mary Ellen, and extended family. A formal memorial will be held later this summer.
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