'90s Alt-Pop Singer Jill Sobule, Known for Groundbreaking Hit "I Kissed a Girl," Dies at 66
Jill Sobule, the singer-songwriter known for her groundbreaking 1995 hit "I Kissed a Girl," has died in a Minneapolis house fire at age 66.
Singer Jill Sobule wearing tan hat
Photo Credit: Jill Sobule for Uncensored Interview / CC by 2.0
Sobule made history with "I Kissed a Girl," the first openly gay-themed song to reach the Billboard Top 20. She also gained recognition for "Supermodel," featured in the film Clueless, and her Drama Desk-nominated musical "Fuck 7th Grade," which is set to release its original cast recording on June 6.
Born in Denver in 1959, Sobule began her career with her Todd Rundgren-produced debut album "Things Here Are Different" in 1990. After signing with Atlantic in 1995, she later transitioned to independent labels while expanding into television and theater projects.
A pioneer in crowdfunding, Sobule successfully raised $75,000 from over 500 donors in 2008 to produce her album "California Years." She repeated this success with her 2018 album "Nostalgia Kills."
John Porter, her manager, remembered her as "a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture." Her attorney, Ken Hertz, noted her close personal connection to clients, saying "Jill wasn't just a client. She was family to us."
An informal gathering will be held at Swallow Hill Music's Tuft Theatre in Denver, where she was scheduled to perform, with a formal memorial planned for this summer.
US Copyright Office seal
Man standing in empty theater auditorium
US Copyright Office exterior