Jill Sobule's Mysterious Death Sparks Investigation Into Possible Drug Link
Tragedy has struck the music world as "I Kissed a Girl" singer was found dead following a devastating house fire in Minnesota, and now officials are scrambling to determine exactly what happened in her final moments.
The 66-year-old '90s alt-pop icon, known for her cult-favorite tracks featured in films like "Clueless," was discovered deceased Thursday morning after flames tore through a residence in Woodbury, a suburb of Minneapolis.
But the blaze might not tell the full story of Jill Sobule's passing.
Emergency crews with Woodbury Public Safety were called around 5:30 a.m. to the home, which was already engulfed in flames. Firefighters searched the property for a missing person, only to discover Sobule had perished inside. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown and is being treated as part of an active investigation.
Her agent and manager later confirmed her death, calling Sobule a 'force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture.'
Now, according to TMZ, a rep for the Ramsey County Medical Examiner confirmed another investigation is underway to find out whether Sobule died in the fire or before it. Authorities are reportedly conducting tests to check for the presence of drugs, alcohol, or carbon monoxide that could have played a role in her death.
Fans of '90s music will remember Sobule for her charting hit "I Kissed a Girl," which reached No. 20 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1995, long before 's version of the same name took over the airwaves in 2008.
And while Sobule initially claimed Perry's hit didn't faze her, things eventually turned ugly.
'In truth, she wrote it with a team of professional writers and was signed by the very same guy that signed me in 1995. I have not mentioned that in interviews as I don't want to sound bitter or petty 'cause, that's not me,' Sobule said in a 2008 interview, per Daily Mail.
But by 2009, that cool had melted into rage.
Daily Mail also reported that in a jaw-dropping interview with The Rumpus, Sobule didn't hold back. 'F-ck you Katy Perry, you f-ing stupid, maybe 'not good for the gays,' title thieving, haven't heard much else, so not quite sure if you're talented, f-ing little sl-t.'
Despite the drama and her waning mainstream fame, Sobule never stopped making music. She continued recording and releasing new tracks well into her 60s, maintaining a loyal following who admired her raw talent and fearless voice.
After her death, Sobule's manager, John Porter, told Variety, "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," he continued. "I hope her music, memory, & legacy continue to live on and inspire others."
Sobule's longtime attorney, Ken Hertz, also paid tribute.
"Jill wasn't just a client. She was family to us," he said. "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."
Born in Denver in 1959, Jill Sobule released her debut album, "Things Here Are Different," in 1990. A follow-up album, recorded with British singer Joe Jackson, was never released.
She later signed with Atlantic Records in 1995, finding commercial success with her self-titled album. However, the constraints of the pop format often limited the breadth of her sharp, wide-ranging songwriting, which touched on topics as diverse as capital punishment, shoplifting, anorexia, and the MAGA movement.
In the years that followed, Sobule continued to release music through independent labels while branching out into theatrical and television work, including composing the theme song for the Nickelodeon series "Unfabulous."
Sobule is survived by her brother, James Sobule, and his wife, Mary Ellen, along with her nephews, Ian Matthew and Robert, and Robert's wife, Irina.
Now, as investigators piece together the moments leading up to her tragic death, fans and friends alike are mourning the loss of a trailblazing artist whose voice won't soon be forgotten.
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