By Tess Creasy
Denver-born singer and songwriter Jill Sobule tragically passed on May 1, 2025 at the age of 66 — leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Her 90s hits — including “Supermodel” featured in the 1995 film Clueless — paved the way for her career as one of the most iconic pop-folk vocalists of our time.
Sobule’s debut album Things Here Are Different kicked off her career in 1990. After that, she went on to release 12 albums, Nostalgia Kills being her final release in 2018.
Not only a performer but a songwriter too, her candid lyrics set her apart. Sobule was not one to shy away from difficult topics, including in personal and political spheres. Within her decades-long career she remained outspoken about a variety of social issues including LGBTQ+ rights, eating disorders and mental health, and American government.
“A witty satirist and die-hard Broncos & Nuggets fan,” says fellow musician Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave about Sobule. “I will surely miss laughing with her about sports and crying with her about politics and vice versa.” Her influence reached far beyond the music world alone; her death and her legacy was covered by major media outlets all across the U.S.
The 1995 hit “I Kissed A Girl” was groundbreaking. At the time of its release, there was very little queer representation in music and media, let alone such direct mentions of the queer experience. The song is blatantly honest, with the kind of wit Sobule is known for — and people loved it. The song made No. 67 on Billboard’s Top 100 list that year.
Sobule was scheduled to perform several shows in Colorado the weekend of her death. To commemorate her, Swallow Hill Music hosted a tribute event on May 2nd, what would’ve been the night of her Denver show. The event was hosted by her local tour manager, Doug Gertner, radio personality Ron Bostwick of the Colorado Sound and Colorado Music Hall of Famer and founder of Swallow Hill—Harry Tuft.
Tuft joined childhood friends of Sobule’s as well as fellow Hall of Famer Carla Sciaky of the Mother Folkers. The evening included live videos of Jill’s performances and various speakers paying tribute. A link to the recorded memorial can be found below.
Jill Sobule will be missed, especially here in Colorado, and the mark she’s made in the world of music will outlive her for decades to come.
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“Let us listen to her music to honor the wonderful singer-songwriter she was.” – Tracy Chapman, singer/songwriter