Jill Sobule, “I Kissed a Girl” singer, dies in house fire at 66

Jill Sobule, the singer-songwriter who scored ’90s hits with “I Kissed a Girl” and “Supermodel,” died on Thursday (5/1) in a house fire in Woodbury, Minnesota. She was 66.

Her manager, John Porter, shared the very sad news: “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.”

Released in 1995, “I Kissed a Girl” was the first openly gay song to reach the Top 20 on a Billboard chart (Modern Rock Tracks). That same year she also had “Supermodel” which featured on the Clueless soundtrack. In the 2000s, Sobule and SNL’s Julia Sweeney created the musical revue Jill and Julia, and this decade Sobule wrote the 2022 autobiographical stage musical Fuck 7th Grade, which had four stage runs.

“Aside from being a blazingly brilliant talent, Jill was one of very sweetest people i’ve ever known,” Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws wrote. “Deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved her. I will cherish my memories.”

Lloyd Cole wrote, “I’m really too numb to post much of anything. We loved her. She loved us. She was wonderful, brilliant, hilarious. We miss her, so much.”

Rest in peace, Jill.