Jill Sobule, the influential singer-songwriter behind the 1995 hit song “I Kissed a Girl,” has died in a Minneapolis house fire at the age of 66, per variety.com. Sobule’s music career spanned over three decades and 12 albums, tackling a wide range of topics from capital punishment to the MAGA movement.
Sobule’s self-titled album, released in 1995, included the hit single “I Kissed a Girl,” which became the first openly gay-themed song to crack the Billboard Top 20. She also wrote the song “Supermodel” for the film Clueless and more recently created the Drama Desk-nominated autobiographical musical “Fuck 7th Grade.”
Her manager, John Porter, paid tribute to Sobule, saying, “Jill Sobule was a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture.”
A formal memorial celebrating her life and legacy will take place during the summer.
Sobule was scheduled to perform in Denver tomorrow night, but instead, an informal gathering will be held in her honour. Her rep confirmed that the original cast recording of “Fuck 7th Grade” will be released on June 6, alongside a special 30th-anniversary reissue of her self-titled album.
Sobule’s innovative approach to music included using crowdfunding to release albums, pioneering a model that allowed her to connect directly with fans.
Her legacy as a singer-songwriter and activist will continue to inspire others through her music.
