Jill Sobule, Singer of “I Kissed a Girl,” Dies at 66 in Tragic House Fire
The music world is mourning the loss of Jill Sobule, the trailblazing singer-songwriter whose bold voice helped shape the landscape of LGBTQ+ representation in pop music. Sobule died at the age of 66 on May 1, 2025, in a house fire at her home in Woodbury, Minnesota. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire.
Best known for her 1995 hit “I Kissed a Girl,” Sobule broke ground with a song that became the first openly LGBTQ-themed single to chart on Billboard. Long before the mainstream caught up, Sobule was singing about identity, self-acceptance, and love in all its forms—earning her a devoted following and a place in music history.
In addition to “I Kissed a Girl,” her track “Supermodel” gained fame after being featured in the cult-classic film Clueless, cementing her as a voice of the ’90s with timeless resonance. Across her three-decade career, Sobule released eight albums and was known for her candid songwriting that addressed everything from anorexia and the death penalty to feminism and faith.
Her manager remembered her as “a force of nature and a human rights advocate,” someone who never shied away from using her platform to speak up and connect with others.
Tragically, Sobule was preparing to mark a major milestone this year with two new projects, including a 30th-anniversary reissue of her Atlantic Records debut. While her physical presence is gone, her fearless legacy will continue to inspire generations of artists and fans alike.
Rest in power, Jill.
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