Jill Sobule, Singer of “I Kissed a Girl,” Dies at 66 in House Fire
Jill Sobule, the trailblazing singer-songwriter best known for her 1995 hit “I Kissed a Girl,” has died at age 66. She passed away in a house fire on May 1, 2025, at her home in Woodbury, Minnesota, according to her publicist.
Sobule, widely seen as an underappreciated voice of the 1990s, was known for her bold storytelling and addressing topics like LGBTQ+ rights, anorexia, and the death penalty. Her breakthrough came with “I Kissed a Girl,” the first openly queer-themed song to chart on Billboard, accompanied by a memorable MTV video featuring Fabio.
Born in Denver, she overcame early career setbacks before finding her voice with her 1995 Atlantic Records album. That same year, her song “Supermodel” was featured in Clueless, cementing her place in ’90s pop culture.
Sobule released eight albums and remained an influential figure in folk-pop music. Her death comes just weeks before the planned release of two new projects, including a 30th anniversary reissue.
“She was a force of nature,” said her longtime manager. Sobule is survived by her brother, sister-in-law, nephews, and close friends.