Jill Sobule, the acclaimed singer-songwriter known for her iconic hits "I Kissed A Girl" and the satirical "Supermodel" from the "Clueless" soundtrack, has passed away at the age of 66. The news of her death was announced on May 1 through a press release posted on her Facebook page by her representatives, revealing that she tragically perished in a house fire earlier that morning.
Local authorities confirmed the devastating news. The Woodbury Police Department issued a statement on May 2, sharing the information with USA TODAY. "WPD can confirm the victim of the fire yesterday morning was Jill Sobule," stated WPD patrol commander Tom Ehrenberg. While the Ramsey County Medical Examiner has yet to finalize the official cause of death, the investigation into the fire remains active, which is standard procedure in such cases.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that the fatal house fire occurred in Woodbury, a suburb of Saint Paul, Minnesota. According to a statement released on Facebook by Woodbury Public Safety, first responders arrived to find the house completely engulfed in flames. The homeowners reported that one person was potentially still inside the burning residence. "Woodbury firefighters began actively fighting the fire while also searching for the missing person," the statement read. "Tragically, the missing female, in her 60s, was located deceased inside the home." Woodbury Public Safety continues to investigate the cause of the fire. USA TODAY has reached out to the Woodbury Public Safety Department for further details.
The press release from Sobule’s representatives included heartfelt remembrances from those who worked closely with her throughout her career, including her manager, booking agent, and attorney. Manager John Porter paid tribute to Sobule as "a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture." He emphasized her unwavering commitment to social justice and her profound impact on the musical landscape.
In lieu of Sobule’s scheduled performance at Swallow Hill Music in Denver on May 2, an informal gathering will be hosted by her friend, Rob Bostwick, host of 105.5 The Colorado Sound. "Folks are encouraged to join their fellow Jill friends and fans to share a story or song," the press release noted, offering a space for mourning and celebration of her life and music.
A formal memorial service will be held later this summer. Sobule, who was born in Denver, was scheduled to embark on a three-show "Colorado world tour" in May, with additional summer performances planned for the East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast. Her last performance was reportedly as a supporting act for The Fixx on April 25 at the Arcada Theatre in Illinois.
Sobule’s musical legacy is significant. On her website, "I Kissed A Girl" is described as "the first ever openly queer-themed Billboard Top 20 record." Throughout her three-decade-long career, she fearlessly tackled a diverse range of complex and often controversial topics in her songs, including the death penalty, anorexia nervosa, shoplifting, reproduction, the French Resistance, adolescent malaise, LGBTQ issues, and the Christian Right. Her willingness to address these subjects with wit, intelligence, and vulnerability set her apart as a unique and important voice in popular music. She also ventured into the world of theater, producing an off-Broadway autobiographical musical, which enjoyed four separate runs over three years.
In a 2022 New York Times review, theater critic Laura Collins-Hughes described Sobule as "enchanting," highlighting her captivating stage presence and ability to connect with audiences on a deeply personal level. The review quoted Sobule reflecting on the early reception to "I Kissed A Girl." "I wish I would have said to all of them: it’s a big ol gay gay song," she told the crowd during an October 2022 performance. "But I didn’t. I was too scared. I wanted to do the smart thing. I wanted to be arty and transgressive, but I wanted to sell records. The compromising got me nowhere. And then I couldn’t stand my own song." Her words reveal the internal struggles she faced navigating the music industry while staying true to her artistic vision and personal identity.
Sobule’s first album, "Things Here Are Different," was released in 1990. However, it was her second album, the 1995 self-titled "Jill Sobule," that brought her mainstream commercial and critical success. The album spawned the hit singles "I Kissed A Girl" and "Supermodel," cementing her place in the pop culture consciousness. Her most recent album, "Nostalgia Kills," was released in 2018.
In an interview with Billboard before the release of "Nostalgia Kills," Sobule admitted that she "went through an extended period of time of finding other things and avoiding doing a new album." She elaborated, "There were things that happened in my life — the death of a parent, a breakup, a move. I was my own procrastinatrix, is what I call it. But I think those kind of jostle you back into the creative mode, and I started loving music again — loving listening, loving writing and the original spirit of why I did this in the first place, I suppose." Her words offer a glimpse into the personal challenges and artistic rejuvenation that shaped her later work.
Jill Sobule is survived by her brother and her sister-in-law, James and Mary Ellen Sobule, her nephews, and numerous beloved cousins and countless friends. Her passing leaves a void in the music world and in the hearts of those who knew and admired her. Her music, however, will continue to resonate with listeners for generations to come, a testament to her talent, her courage, and her enduring impact.
