Singer-songwriter Jill Sobule, known for the queer anthem ‘I Kissed a Girl’, has died in a house fire aged 66. After the news was confirmed by her manager, tributes have started to pour in from friends, colleagues and fans.
Born in 1959, Sobule built a successful career spanning three decades. She was best known for her 1995 hit song ‘I Kissed a Girl’, which is widely regarded as the first openly queer-themed pop song to break into the Billboard top 20 charts. The single paved the way for many LGBTQ+ artists to be open about their identity in their music.
During her career, Sobule released a total of 12 albums, dealing with crucial topics and social issues, including LGBTQ+ issues, the death penalty, anorexia and reproductive rights. The singer went on to perform with other music legends such as Neil Young, Billy Bragg and Cyndi Lauper.
Sobule also became a pioneer of crowdfunding in music, when in 2008, she became one of the first artists to release an album thanks to fan contributions. Her impressive career also included ‘Supermodel’, which became the soundtrack of the LGBTQ+ coming-of-age film Clueless, released in 1995.
In a 2002 interview with The New York Times, Jill Sobule came out as bisexual. She shared with the outlet: “It was a weird thing, because there was a part of me that wanted to say I’m bisexual, but I just didn’t want to get into that.
“There was a big debate about me, and people were saying, ‘Oh, she’s such a closet case — she won’t come out and say she’s a lesbian.’ And other people were saying, ‘Oh, she’s a heterosexual woman trying to catch a lesbian trend.’ You couldn’t win.”
News of her death was confirmed by her manager in a statement to Variety. The singer died in a fire that broke out on May 1 while she was staying with friends in a Minneapolis suburb. The cause of the fire is still unknown at the time of writing.
Her manager, John Porter, said in the statement: “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 and a friend today. I hope her music, memory and legacy continue to live on and inspire others.”
Tributes have started to pour in since the news was confirmed, with friends, colleagues and fans honouring Sobule’s memory.
English musician Lloyd Cole said, “I’m really too numb to post much of anything. We loved her. She loved us.”
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American actress and writer Sarah Thyre, who collaborated with Sobule, shared: “This one hits hard. Jill Sobule was an amazing, generous artist who lent her time and talent to abortion rights and other progressive causes.”
Thyre continued, “Above all, she was just lovely and playful and earnest and talented. Her song ‘I kissed a girl’ blew the doors open for queer folk. This is so unbearably sad. Goodbye, sweet Jill. So grateful I got to be a fan and a friend.”
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Margaret Cho shared a message on Instagram, writing, “This is not real to me. Jill Sobule, I am in shock and cannot process this. #restinpower.”
Rock band The Fixx also shared a tribute, writing: “We are absolutely devastated and shocked to hear the news of Jill Sobule’s untimely passing. Jill just finished a tour with us days ago…and was so full of life and talent. Our hearts are broken. We will always miss her.”
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Rest in Power, Jill Sobule.
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