Sass Jordan, Canadian rock star and Canadian Idol judge, dies at 63

Sass Jordan, the Canadian rock singer and longtime Canadian Idol judge, has died at 63. The musician died on Thursday, October 2, surrounded by her family.

Jordan’s family announced her death on social media, saying she had “peacefully crossed over to the other side” while surrounded by loved ones. They described her as “an inimitable force of nature” and “an irreplaceable being of light and joy”.

Jordan launched her recording career as a co-lead vocalist on Bündock’s album Mauve before releasing her solo debut, Tell Somebody. The album’s title track reached No. 11 in Canada, while Jordan won the Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist. She later received three additional Juno nominations for Best Female Vocalist.

Over a career spanning more than four decades, Jordan became known for her blues-rock vocals and performed alongside major acts including Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC and Van Halen.

She became a household name in Canada after joining Canadian Idol as a judge in 2003. Jordan remained on the panel throughout all six seasons of the singing competition.

Three months before her death, Jordan cancelled her remaining 2026 performances because of what her team described as a serious medical condition. Her final performance took place at Peterborough Musicfest in July.

Jordan is survived by her husband, Derek Sharp, daughter Stella Jordan-Sharp, stepdaughter Brianne Sharp and brother Daniel Jordan. Her family has asked for privacy while thanking fans for their support.