Jill Sobule, the queer singer-songwriter behind the groundbreaking hit “I Kissed a Girl”, has died. She was 66. Her publicist confirmed to the Associated Press that Sobule passed away last week in the morning in a house fire in Woodbury, Minnesota. She had been staying with friends while rehearsing for her one-woman show, Fck 7th Grade*, set to return to her hometown of Denver.
Officials say firefighters responded to the blaze around 5:30 a.m. The cause is under investigation. Sobule made history in 1995 with “I Kissed a Girl,” the first openly queer song to chart in Billboard’s Modern Rock Top 20 — despite bans from some radio stations. The track was featured on her self-titled album, which also included “Supermodel,” made famous by the Clueless soundtrack.
Over nearly three decades, Sobule released 10 studio albums, five EPs, and three live recordings — her latest release was this year. Her shows tackled themes from the death penalty to adolescent awkwardness, always with wit and authenticity. Her manager, John Porter, called her “a force of nature and human rights advocate.”
Friend and comedian Margaret Cho, who worked with Sobule in 2009, also paid tribute, saying, “This is not real to me… I am in shock.” In place of Friday night’s now-canceled performance, the Denver venue will host a remembrance where fans can share songs and stories. A memorial celebration is planned for the summer.
