US singer Jill Sobule dies following a house fire, Entertainment News

AsiaOne

02-05-2025

Jill Sobule has died at 66 following a house fire.
The singer - who was best known for her hit singles I Kissed A Girl and Supermodel - died on Thursday (May 1) following a blaze at a property in Minneapolis. The cause of the fire has yet to be revealed but officials have reportedly launched an investigation.
Jill's manager, John Porter, told Variety in a 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."
The star's attorney, Ken Hertz, added: "Jill wasn't just a client. She was family to us. She showed up for every birth, every birthday, and every holiday.
"She performed at our daughter's wedding, and I was her 'tech' when she performed by Zoom from our living room (while living with us) during the pandemic."
The singer had been due to perform at Swallow Hill Music's Tuft Theater in Denver, Colorado on Friday night with her show Jill Sobule presents: Songs From F*** 7th Grade More and the venue released a statement confirming the concert will be replaced by a "free, informal gathering" to honour her memory.
The statement read: "We are terribly saddened to share the news that Jill Sobule passed away yesterday.
"Jill was a beloved member of the Swallow Hill community, and we know she will be sorely missed. Instead of the concert that was planned for tomorrow night, we will host a free, informal gathering in Jill's honour at Swallow Hill, from 7.30pm (9.30am Singapore time) to 9:00pm. All are welcome to attend.
"We send our heartfelt condolences to all who knew her, and all who were moved, inspired, and entertained by her wonderful songs."
Jill released her debut album Things Here Are Different in 1990 and she later shot to fame when her single I Kissed a Girl stormed the charts in 1995.
Another song Supermodel also became a hit after featuring on the soundtrack to 1995 film Clueless.
She released eight studio albums over the years, while she also toured with toured with Richard Barone as The Richard and Jill Show, played with Lloyd Cole's band The Negatives, appeared in 2004 film Mind The Gap, contributed music to Nickelodeon show Unfabulous and performed a show with Julia Sweeney called Jill and Julia.
One of her most recent projects was working on an off-Broadway show called From F*** 7th Grade which ran between 2022 and 2024 and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.
She later criticised pop star Katy Perry, who released another track with the same name in 2008.
However, Jill later insisted she had no ill feelings towards the singer for using the same song title.
In a piece written for the Huffington Post, Jill explained: "I may be a touch cynical about the business, but I have never really been angry or had ill feelings towards Katy herself.
"I was actually in a small way happy to not be the Kissed a Girl girl anymore ... [I hope her fans are] okay with the title of my brand new song, I Kissed a Girl... First... Wink."