Jill Sobule, a well-known singer and songwriter, has sadly passed away at the age of 66. This happened after a fire broke out early on a Thursday morning at her home in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Firefighters got a call about the fire around 5:30 in the morning. When they arrived, the house was already on fire. Right now, investigators are still trying to figure out what caused the fire.
Jill Sobule was most famous for her song called “I Kissed a Girl,” which she released back in 1995. The song got a lot of attention again years later when pop star Katy Perry came out with a different song that had the exact same title in 2008.
At first, Jill didn’t make a big deal about the two songs sounding similar or having the same name. But over time, she became more open about feeling annoyed and frustrated by the situation. In a 2009 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Jill explained that Katy Perry’s version was written with a team of professional writers and that both of them were actually signed by the same music executive—the person who helps artists get their record deals.
Jill said she tried not to sound bitter in public, but in private, she had some strong feelings about Katy Perry, even using some harsh words to express her frustration over what she felt was Katy taking her idea.
Beyond that, Jill Sobule was loved for her clever and thoughtful songs that often talked about important social issues. She was one of the first musicians to openly represent LGBTQ+ themes in her music. Born in Denver, Colorado, in 1959, she made a big impact in the music world with her honest and sometimes funny lyrics.
Another popular song of hers, called “Supermodel,” was featured in the hit movie Clueless, which helped her gain even more fans.
Over her long career, Jill released 12 albums. Her music covered a wide range of topics including politics, mental health, and identity—things that mattered deeply to her and her listeners. Jill was also one of the early musicians to use crowdfunding, where fans contribute money directly to help make an album. For her 2009 album California Years, she raised $75,000 this way.
Jill Sobule’s music and spirit inspired many people, and her loss is felt deeply by fans and the music community alike.