Key Takeaways
- Folk-pop artist Jill Sobule, known for “I Kissed a Girl,” passed away at 66 in a Minnesota house fire on May 1, 2025.
- Sobule built a $2-4 million career through fan support and pioneering crowdfunding rather than mainstream success.
- Her dozen-plus albums addressing LGBTQ+ themes and social justice left an enduring impact on independent music.
Jill Sobule, the beloved folk-pop singer-songwriter best known for the 1995 hit “I Kissed a Girl” and the satirical anthem “Supermodel,” tragically passed away on May 1, 2025, at age 66.
Her demise, the result of a house fire at her residence in Woodbury, Minnesota, has sent ripples through the music and LGBTQ+ communities she passionately represented and inspired for decades.
While Jill Sobule’s net worth was never her defining attribute, it’s estimated that she had a net worth in the range of $2 million to $4 million at the time of her passing.
Much of her financial success came not from mainstream radio dominance but from her dedicated fanbase, independent releases, and savvy use of crowdfunding long before it became a music industry norm.
A Career Defined by Courage And Creativity
Born on January 16, 1959, in Denver, Colorado, Jill Sobule began her recording career in 1990 with “Things Here Are Different.”
Though her debut didn’t chart commercially, it set the stage for a bold, unconventional trajectory in the music world.
Sobule skyrocketed into public consciousness in 1995 with her self-titled second album.
It included “I Kissed a Girl,” which made history as the first openly queer-themed song to reach the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, and “Supermodel,” which gained cult status thanks to its placement in the hit teen film Clueless.
Despite early success, Sobule charted a path that defied pop formulas.
Her 1997 album “Happy Town” tackled themes like anorexia, religious extremism, and mental health.
Though critically lauded, it didn’t match earlier commercial performance, resulting in her departure from Atlantic Records.
Yet Sobule remained undiscouraged, embracing artistic freedom that would define the rest of her career.
Jill Sobule’s Net Worth
Sobule’s net worth may not rival pop stars with larger commercial machines behind them, but her influence was priceless.
She self-released albums, launched one of the first successful fan-funded music projects with 2009’s “California Years,” and built a loyal fanbase that enabled her to release projects like “Dottie’s Charms” (2014) and “Nostalgia Kills” (2018).
She also supplemented her income through live performances, music for television (Unfabulous on Nickelodeon), acting roles, and collaborations with artists.
She reportedly performed over 100 shows annually, contributing to her enduring career earnings.
Sobule’s work extended into theater with “F*ck 7th Grade”, an autobiographical musical that earned a Drama Desk Award nomination and played to sold-out audiences in New York.
Like much of her career, the project blended humor, heartache, and authenticity.
Jill Sobule released over a dozen studio albums, contributed to film and television soundtracks, and was a prolific collaborator.
Her music addressed a wide spectrum of human experience: LGBTQ+ identity, eating disorders, mental health, social justice, religion, and adolescence.
Though Sobule never achieved superstar status by industry metrics, her impact on singer-songwriters, queer artists, and independent musicians is immeasurable.
In a statement following her passing, her manager, John Porter, said:
“Jill Sobule was a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture. I lost a client and a friend today. I hope her music, memory, and legacy continue to live on and inspire others.”
