By Parrot Newspaper 
Music Icon Jill Sobule, Pioneer of LGBTQ+ Anthem ‘I Kissed a Girl,’ Dies in Tragic House Fire at 66″
The music world is mourning the loss of Jill Sobule, the trailblazing singer-songwriter behind the 1995 queer anthem “I Kissed a Girl,” who died tragically in a Minneapolis house fire early Thursday, May 1. She was 66.
Sobule’s career skyrocketed with “I Kissed a Girl,” a fearless, playful hit that became the first openly LGBTQ+-themed song to crack the Billboard Top 20. But her legacy didn’t stop there—her infectious “Supermodel” was a standout in the cult classic Clueless, cementing her as a voice of a generation.
A Show That Will Never Happen
The devastating news came just 24 hours before Sobule was set to take the stage in Denver for “Songs From F–k 7th Grade & More.” The concert, now canceled, will be replaced by an informal gathering to honor her memory.
Tributes Pour In
Colleagues and friends remembered Sobule as a radiant force—both onstage and off.
Her manager, John Porter: “Jill was a human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture. I lost a client and a friend today.”
Her attorney, Ken Hertz: “She wasn’t just a client—she was family. She played at my daughter’s wedding and Zoom-performed from our living room during the pandemic.”
Booking agent Craig Grossman: “No one made me laugh harder. Her spirit will be deeply missed.”
A Legacy Still Unfolding
With 12 albums over three decades, Sobule’s influence stretched far beyond her hits. Her autobiographical musical “F–k 7th Grade” recently wrapped a theater run, and its cast recording—along with a 30th-anniversary reissue of her self-titled album—will drop next month.
She also penned the theme for Nickelodeon’s “Unfabulous,” proving her knack for capturing the angst and joy of growing up.
Music Icon Jill Sobule, Pioneer of LGBTQ+ Anthem ‘I Kissed a Girl,’ Dies in Tragic House Fire at 66″
Sobule leaves behind her brother James, sister-in-law Mary, and two nephews. A formal memorial is planned for later this summer.