Jill Sobule, “I Kissed a Girl” and “Supermodel” Singer, Dies at 66

Jill Sobule, renowned for her composition “I Kissed a Girl,” which became the first openly gay song to enter the Billboard Top 20, has tragically passed away at the age of 66.

Tragically, Sobule passed away on Thursday due to a house fire while she was visiting friends in Minneapolis, as confirmed by her manager, John Porter, to The Hollywood Reporter.

Born and raised in Denver, she made her entry into the music industry in 1990 with her first album titled “Things Here Are Different“. In 1995, five years later, she put out another album simply called “Jill Sobule“, which contained her hit song “I Kissed a Girl”, considered the first openly LGBTQ+ track to reach the top 20 on the Billboard charts. This album also included “Supermodel”, a track that was prominently featured in the soundtrack for the movie “Clueless“.

A musician named Sobule, known for her work in human rights advocacy, tackled challenging themes such as capital punishment, eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, theft, reproductive issues, and the political movement symbolized by ‘MAGA.’

Jill Sobule, who was both a powerful force of nature and an advocate for human rights, has left an indelible mark on our culture through her music. Porter shared in a statement that he had greatly enjoyed working with her. ‘Today I’ve lost not just a client,’ he said, ‘but also a dear friend.’ He expressed hope that Sobule’s music, memory, and legacy will continue to thrive and inspire others for generations to come.

Most recently, Sobule has been working on her autobiographical musical titled “F*ck 7th Grade“. This production was chosen as a New York Times Critic’s pick and was nominated for a Drama Desk award. An original cast recording of “F*ck 7th Grade” is scheduled for release on June 6, coinciding with a 30th anniversary vinyl release of “Jill Sobule“, featuring her popular tracks “I Kissed a Girl” and “Supermodel”.

Ken Hertz, Sobule’s long-term lawyer, stated that Jill wasn’t merely a client; she was like kin to us. She attended every birth, celebration of her birthday, and holiday. She even played at our daughter’s wedding, and during the pandemic, when she performed from our living room via Zoom, I was her tech assistant.

Originally, Jill Sobule was set to take the stage at Swallow Hill Music’s Tuft Theater in Denver on a Friday evening for her “Jill Sobule Presents: Songs From F*ck 7th Grade & More” show. However, due to unfortunate circumstances, an informal tribute event will be held this summer instead, to celebrate her remarkable legacy.

Among those who carry on are her brother, James, along with his spouse, Mary Ellen, as well as their sons, Ian, Matthew, and Robert, and Robert’s partner, Irina.

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2025-05-02 03:24