Singer-Songwriter Jill Sobule Dies in Fire

Jill Sobule, the award-winning singer-songwriter behind the hit song "I Kissed a Girl," has died in a house fire at the age of 66. Her publicist confirmed the news, but the cause of the fire in Woodbury, Minnesota is still unknown.

"Jill Sobule was a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture," said John Porter, her manager. "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."

Sobule released 12 albums over the course of her career, addressing complex topics such as the death penalty, anorexia nervosa, reproduction, and LGBTQ+ issues. Her first album, "Things Here Are Different," was released in 1990.

Her song "I Kissed a Girl" gained widespread attention in the late 1990s and early 2000s, despite being banned on several southern radio stations. She also starred in an autobiographical off-Broadway musical that premiered at the Wild Project in New York in 2022.

Sobule was known for taking control of her career by fundraising to make her own albums. In 2008, after two major record companies dropped her and two indie labels went bankrupt, she raised tens of thousands of dollars from fans so she could make a new album.

"The old kind of paradigm, where you've always waited for other people to do things, you'd have your manager and your agent," she said at the time. "You'd wait for the big record company to give you money to do things and they tell you what to do. This is so great. I want to do everything like this."

A formal memorial to celebrate her life and legacy will be held later this summer, but an informal gathering hosted by her friend Ron Bostwick from 105.5 The Colorado Sound at the performance space where attendees can "share a story or song" is scheduled for Friday night.

Born in Denver, Colorado on January 16, 1959, Sobule has described herself as a shy child who preferred observing over participating. She was known for playing dozens of shows a year and has described her live performances as vulnerable experiences. She often doesn't have a set list and wings it.

"In a good way, I feel like I'm still a rookie," she told The Associated Press in 2023 in an interview about her music. "There's so much more to do and I haven't done my best yet."