What did Jill Sobule say about Katy Perry’s record? 2009 interview insights explored as I Kissed a Girl singer dies in tragic fire

Alternative era-rocker Jill Sobule, known for her groundbreaking 1995 single I Kissed A Girl, has died at 66. The Daily Mail has reported that the singer-songwriter met her demise in a house fire in Minneapolis. The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday morning. The first openly gay woman to clock in on the Billboard Top 20, she was staying with her friends at the time. The friends “lost Jill, their house, and their dogs,” her manager, John Porter, told The Hollywood Reporter.

The Daily Mail has also reported that firefighters responded to a call around 5:30 a.m. about a fire that broke out in Woodbury, Minnesota. By the time they arrived, the home was blanketed in flames. At the time of writing, the cause of the inferno is unclear, and investigations into the same remain ongoing.

Sobule notoriously feuded with Katy Perry back in 2009, a year after the latter released her hit song of the same name, I Kissed a Girl. Speaking with The Rumpus at the time, Sobule referred to the songstress with profanity, despite having initially claimed she wasn't bothered by the song's name. The singer stated,

"As a musician I have always refrained from criticizing another artist. I was, “well, good for her.” It did bug me a little bit, however, when she said she came up with the idea for the title in a dream. 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."

She went on to address the Dark Horse singer,

"So here goes, for the first time in an interview: F*ck you Katy Perry, you f*cking stupid, maybe “not good for the gays,” title thieving, haven’t heard much else, so not quite sure if you’re talented, f*cking little sl*t."

Jill Sobule's life and legacy explored as tributes come pouring in:

Jill Sobule, who also had a track featured in the 1995 romantic comedy Clueless, had her track I Kissed a Girl reach the 20th spot on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks that year. The track became the most successful openly queer-themed track to hit the charts at that point in time. Her song Supermodel from the film was also a massive hit. Her manager, John Porter, stated,

“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.”

In recent times, Jill Sobule crafted a coming-of-age musical, F--- 7th Grade. The off-Broadway show made its debut in 2022 and earned a Drama Desk nomination for outstanding musical the following year. It was also named a New York Times Critic's Pick.

The songstress was slated to perform in Denver at Swallow Hill today; though in its stead, an informal gathering will take place to honor her legacy.

Ken Hertz, Sobule’s longtime attorney, also wrote,

“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.”

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Jill Sobule leaves behind her brother and sister-in-law, James and Mary Ellen Sobule; her nephews, Ian, Matthew, and Robert; and Robert’s wife, Irina.

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