Jill Sobule, ‘I Kissed a Girl’ Singer, Tragically Dies — Details
The fearless artist and activist, widely recognized for her boundary-pushing work, dies just days before returning to the stage.
Jill Sobule, who rose to prominence in the 1990s with a breakout career in music and theater, died in a house fire early Thursday morning. She was 66.
Jill Sobule performs at the Concert For America 2025 in Studio City, California, on January 20, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
Sobule’s death came just days before she was scheduled to begin a Colorado tour. She was slated to perform on May 2 in Denver and May 3 in Basalt. Instead of Thursday night’s concert at Swallow Hill Music’s Tuft Theater, Ron Bostwick of 105.5 The Colorado Sound will host an informal gathering, inviting fans to share songs and memories.
Best known for her 1995 single “I Kissed a Girl,” which made history as the first openly gay-themed song to reach the Billboard Top 20, Sobule built a career blending deeply personal stories with sharp social insight.
Her 12 albums tackled topics including the death penalty, anorexia, shoplifting, reproduction, intolerance, adolescent malaise, and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
Her most recent work was “F*ck 7th Grade,” a New York Times Critic’s Pick and Drama Desk-nominated autobiographical musical. It premiered at New York City’s Wild Project Theater in 2022 and returned for additional runs in 2023 and 2024.
Her team will release the original cast recording of “F*ck 7th Grade” on June 6. The same day, a 30th anniversary red vinyl reissue of her self-titled album will also be released, featuring both “I Kissed a Girl” and “Supermodel,” the latter famously used in the film “Clueless.”
Sobule also pioneered artist crowdfunding and frequently explored new models to empower creators in the evolving music industry. A favorite among the “digirati,” she performed at the TED conference more than any other artist.
“Jill Sobule was a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture. I was having so much fun working with her. I lost a client & a friend today. I hope her music, memory, & legacy continue to live on and inspire others,” said her manager, John Porter.
Her booking agent, Craig Grossman, said, “I was fortunate enough to get to know Jill beyond a professional relationship. No one made me laugh more. Her spirit and energy shall be greatly missed within the music community and beyond.”
Ken Hertz, Sobule’s longtime attorney, reflected on their deep personal bond, noting that she was more than a client. He shared memories of her being present for family milestones and even living with them during the pandemic. “She was family to us,” he said.
A formal memorial is planned for later this summer. Sobule is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, James and Mary Ellen Sobule; her nephews, Ian Matthew and Robert, and Robert’s wife, Irina. She also leaves behind numerous cousins and countless friends.
