Singer-songwriter Jill Sobule dead in Woodbury house fire, publicist confirms
Woodbury Patrol Commander Tom Ehrenberg says crews were called at about 5:30 a.m. to a residence off Pinehurst Road and Duckwood Trail, where they found the home fully engulfed in flames.
One of the residents made it out but said another person was still inside. Firefighters eventually found the body of a woman in her 60s, Ehrenberg said.
Several agencies, including fire departments from nearby Lake Elmo, Cottage Grove and Maplewood, assisted Woodbury crews at the scene.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Sobble's publicist, David Elkin, confirmed she had died in the fire in an email Thursday afternoon. She was 66.
During her more than three decades of recording, Sobule released 12 albums that addressed such complex topics as the death penalty, anorexia nervosa, reproduction and LGBTQ+ issues. She received widespread attention in the 1990s for her hit singles, "Supermodel," from the movie "Clueless," and "I Kissed A Girl," which, despite being banned on several southern radio stations, made it into the Billboard Top 20.
Jill Sobule performing at Bowery Ballroom on Thursday night, March 16, 2000.
Hiroyuki Ito / Getty Images
She also starred in an autobiographical off-Broadway musical that initially premiered at the Wild Project in New York in 2022 and includes songs and stories about her life.
Sobule was scheduled to perform in Denver on Friday night. Instead, there will be an informal gathering hosted by her friend Ron Bostwick from 105.5 The Colorado Sound at the performance space where attendees can "share a story or song," according to her publicist.
A formal memorial to celebrate her life and legacy will be held later this summer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Noel Gallagher's ex-wife Meg Mathews reveals why she left Oasis' first reunion concert early
Don't go away. Oasis superstar Noel Gallagher's first ex-wife, Meg Mathews, has revealed why she abruptly left the band's first reunion show in 16 years on Friday, July 4, before the concert was officially over. Mathews, who was married to Noel from 1997 to 2001 and shares an adult daughter, Anaïs, with the 'Wonderwall' writer, explained her reasoning in a snappy Instagram post on Saturday. Advertisement 13 Noel Gallagher's ex-wife has revealed why she abruptly left the band's first reunion show in 16 years on Friday before the concert was over. Samir Hussein/WireImage 13 Meg Mathews, who married Noel in 1997, explained herself in an Instagram post on Saturday.'5 stars,' the English columnist, 59, began alongside a clip from the show. 'Loved every minute thank you Oasis … you were brilliant. Great to see all the old faces … it was worth the count Down.' Advertisement Noel's ex also took aim at 'all the f–king papers' that wrote about her early exit from the concert in Cardiff, Wales, on Friday night. 'And to all the F–king papers I left before the encore as I have left many a stadium at the end and it's carnage,' she wrote. 'But yes I could hear Wonderwall as I walked to my car! Happy now ..' 13 Noel's ex-wife said that she left the Oasis concert before the band's four-song encore because she wanted to beat the crowd. Getty Images 13 'And to all the F–king papers I left before the encore as I have left many a stadium at the end and it's carnage,' Mathews wrote. megmathewsofficial_/Instagram Advertisement 13 Mathews and Noel divorced in 2001. Getty Images While many Oasis fans believe Noel penned 'Wonderwall' for Mathews in 1995, he dispelled those rumors in 2002 shortly after the pair's split. 'The meaning of that song was taken away from me by the media who jumped on it,' he explained to BBC Radio 2 at the time regarding the band's signature tune. 'And how do you tell your missus it's not about her once she's read it is?' 'It's a song about an imaginary friend who's gonna come and save you from yourself,' Noel added. Advertisement 13 Noel and Mathews share daughter Anaïs, 25. Corbis via Getty Images 13 While many Oasis fans believe Noel penned 'Wonderwall' for Mathews in 1995, he dispelled those rumors in 2002. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images Meanwhile, the former couple's 25-year-old daughter also took to Instagram over the weekend to share a pic from the 'Don't Go Away' group's first concert since the band's breakup back in 2009. 'It's good to be back,' Anaïs wrote alongside a photo of Oasis on the stage behind her while quoting lyrics from the group's hit song 'Hello.' Besides sharing Anaïs with ex-wife Mathews, Noel also has two sons, Donovan, 17, and Sonny, 14, with his second ex-wife, Sara MacDonald, 53. 13 The Oasis concert in Cardiff, Wales, on Friday night marked the band's first performance in 16 years. AFP via Getty Images 13 Noel had left Oasis, seemingly for good, back in August 2009 following a fight with his brother and bandmate Liam. REUTERS Noel and MacDonald married in 2011 but divorced in 2023 after 12 years of marriage. Advertisement The iconic English rock band's concert in Cardiff on Friday night marked the group's first performance in 16 years. It also marked the first time Noel shared the same stage with his 52-year-old brother, Liam, since their infamous feud broke the group apart. 13 Oasis announced a 2025 reunion world tour last summer. AFP via Getty Images 13 It also marked the first time Noel and Liam shared the same stage in 16 years. Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP Advertisement Noel had quit Oasis, seemingly for good, following a backstage fight with Liam at the Rock en Seine festival in August 2009. 'It is with some sadness and great relief … I quit Oasis tonight,' he announced at the time. 'People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.' But in August 2024, Oasis shocked fans by announcing that the band would reunite for a world tour. 13 The Gallagher brothers kicked off their first Oasis show in 16 years by holding each other's hands up for the crowd. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement 13 'A sight I never thought I'd see again,' one Oasis fan wrote on social media during the band's first reunion show. Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP The world tour, dubbed the Oasis Live '25 Tour, kicked off in Cardiff on Friday and Saturday night and will continue for several more shows across Britain and Ireland before hitting North America on August 25. While music industry experts told The Post that the once-feuding brothers will make at least $200 million from their reunion tour, fans of the band are just happy that Noel and Liam have reunited onstage after nearly two decades. Advertisement 'This is history,' one person tweeted with a photo of the Gallagher brothers raising their hands together onstage Friday night. 'All I can say is AMEN,' added another fan, while a third commented, 'A sight I never thought I'd see again.'
New York Post
5 hours ago
- New York Post
Michael Madsen was sober before his sudden death following yearslong addiction battle: report
Michael Madsen was trying to turn his life around right up until the very end. The 'Reservoir Dogs' actor, who passed away Thursday, July 3, at 67, was said to be sober before his death despite a yearslong battle with alcoholism, per TMZ. Sources close to Madsen told the outlet that the 'Kill Bill' star was making a 'consistent and valiant effort' on his sobriety after spending years in and out of rehabs as well as grappling with depression and other personal issues. 7 Michael Madsen was said to be sober before his sudden death despite a years-long battle with alcoholism AFP via Getty Images 7 Sources close to Madsen said that the 'Kill Bill' star was making a 'consistent and valiant effort' to turn his life around in the months before his death. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP The insiders also claimed that the 'Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood' actor was 'constantly' trying to get his alcohol addiction under control, and that Madsen even helped mentor other struggling addicts at a recovery facility in Malibu. While those closest to Madsen 'hoped and believed' he was still working on his recovery, they were also said to be 'uncertain about his state of mind' in the days and weeks leading up to his death. One source, who claimed to have last spoken with Madsen on June 10, claimed that the 'Thelma and Louise' actor was in 'bad shape' less than one month before his sudden passing. 7 Insiders further claimed that the 'Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood' actor was 'constantly' trying to get his alcohol addiction under control Getty Images 'He called me on June 10 and said, 'I'm getting evicted from my house,' and he was asking me for $10,000 to help him out,' the insider claimed to The Sun after Madsen's death. 'He told me 'I'm going to rehab,' and all this kind of stuff.' 'He really opened up to me. It was clear he had a lot going on in his life that was difficult for him to navigate,' the source added. 'He was in bad shape, man.' Madsen's final years were filled with heartbreak. 7 Madsen's final years were filled with heartbreak. Getty Images In January 2022, Maden's 26-year-old Army veteran son, Hudson, tragically took his own life in O'ahu, Hawaii. 'He was looking towards his future, so it's mind-blowing,' Madsen told the Los Angeles Times in a statement at the time. 'I just can't grasp what happened.' In August 2024, the 'Sin City' actor was arrested for misdemeanor domestic battery. Weeks later, in September 2024, he filed for divorce from his third wife, DeAnna Madsen, after 28 years of marriage. 7 The 'Sin City' actor had filed for divorce from his third wife, DeAnna Madsen, in December after 28 years of marriage. Getty Images While the actor cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split, he also blamed DeAnna for their son's suicide in the divorce documents, which he later took back. Ron Smith, one of the 'Donnie Brasco' star's managers, confirmed Madsen's death on Thursday. He claimed that Madsen died from cardiac arrest; however, no official cause of death has been disclosed by authorities. A rep for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed to The Post that Madsen was found unresponsive at his Malibu home and pronounced dead at the scene at 8:25 a.m. No foul play was suspected. 7 Ron Smith, one of the 'Donnie Brasco' star's managers, said that Madsen passed away from cardiac arrest. Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images Madsen's reps were the first to release a statement about his shocking passing. 'In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films 'Resurrection Road,' 'Concessions' and 'Cookbook for Southern Housewives,' and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life,' managers Smith and Susan Ferris, plus publicist Liz Rodriguez, told The Post. 'Michael was also preparing to release a new book called 'Tears for My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems,' currently being edited,' they added. 'Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.' 7 Tributes poured in for Madsen after the news of his sudden death. Kill Bill Other tributes also poured in. Madsen's sister, actress Virginia Madsen, remembered her late brother as a 'poet disguised as an outlaw.' Harvey Keitel, who starred alongside Madsen in Quentin Tarantino's 'Reservoir Dogs,' remembered his 'dear friend' as a 'great American poet.' The 'Hateful Eight' star's 19-year-old son, Luke, also paid tribute to his 'hero' dad with a touching Instagram post. Luke remembered his dad as the 'coolest, most badass human' he ever knew and a 'famous tough guy movie star.' The actor's son also said that Madsen was a 'damn good' father.
New York Post
8 hours ago
- New York Post
New aerial photos reveal the enormity of Will Smith's secluded 150-acre California estate — which has its own ZIP code
Tucked away in the star-filled enclave of Calabasas, California is a celebrity compound so large it has its own ZIP code. New aerial photos, reported by the Daily Mail, reveal the enormity of A-lister Will Smith's 150-acre estate in the San Fernando Valley. The star's Adobe-style mansion includes impressive sports amenities, custom-built interiors and, curiously, large symbols etched into the facade of an extension. 10 Will Smith, 56, pictured in February. Getty Images for The Recording Academy 10 Aerial photos of the sprawling adobe-style compound show its impressive scale. Jeff Rayner/Coleman-Rayner The 56-year-old Smith's Pueblo Revival home was previously featured on a 2011 cover of Architectural Digest, then praised for its ambitious, bespoke design and worldly architectural inspirations. The sprawling fort was an early real estate endeavor for Smith and his reportedly estranged wife Jada Pinkett Smith. The then-newlyweds, inspired by the desert-chic style of Gene Hackman's now-infamous Santa Fe home, commissioned the late actor's architect, Stephen Samuelson, to build their own abode in the late 1990s. The rambling estate encompasses the work of hundreds of woodworkers, metalsmiths, stonemasons and upholsterers. Pinkett Smith previously called the constructing property 'a spiritual endeavor.' 10 Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, pictured in 2022. Getty Images for Critics Choice Association 10 The Smiths commissioned the architect of Gene Hackman's Santa Fe estate to build their home. Jeff Rayner/Coleman-Rayner 10 An extension on the home includes a sloping roof and symbols etched into the stucco walls. Jeff Rayner/Coleman-Rayner Smith has stayed largely out of the spotlight since the 'slap heard around the world,' in which the actor stormed the stage at the 2022 Academy Awards and slapped host Chris Rock over a jab at Pinkett Smith's alopecia. The secluded property's resort-like amenities would offer a much-needed retreat for any beleaguered celebrity. Smith previously told Architectural Digest that the property's lake gazebo — accessed across a bridge — was his favorite place to relax. 'Answers come to me out there,' Smith told the outlet. An apparent extension on the home includes a curving roof and mysterious, Superman-style 'Cool S' symbols etched into the stucco walls, the Daily Mail reported. The features — a familiar site on the notes of bored schoolchildren world-over — are perhaps a homage to the last initial of the homeowner. 10 The main house spans 25,000 square feet. Jeff Rayner/Coleman-Rayner 10 The basketball court includes built-in seating. Jeff Rayner/Coleman-Rayner 10 The lakeside gazebo that Smith once called his favorite place to relax. Jeff Rayner/Coleman-Rayner The sloping roof of the extension encompasses a sunbathing area with umbrellas and daybeds. Other tailor-made features of the larger-than-life property include a puppy mansion for Smith's Rottweilers and a sunken trampoline. A sports complex features courts for tennis, volleyball and basketball. In addition to nine bedrooms, interiors of the 25,000-square-foot home include a meditation room, a recording studio and an entire cinema wing. The latter feature comes with a projection booth, men and women's restrooms and an 'accolades lounge,' in which movie-goers can conduct lofty discussions after the credits roll. 10 Will Smith's son, Jaden Smith, launched his free vegan food truck (left) in 2019. It's now parked on the property. Jeff Rayner/Coleman-Rayner 10 The pool area. Jeff Rayner/Coleman-Rayner Smith briefly listed the property for sale in 2014 for a whopping $42 million, but subsequently pulled the listing. It's unclear who among the Smith clan remains at the Calabasas compound, but signs of family life are apparent in aerial shots. Jaden Smith's free vegan food truck for the homeless, launched on his 21st birthday in 2019 and bearing the name 'I Love You Restaurant,' is parked on the property. Calabasas has long been the chosen residence of Hollywood stars and music industry titans. The Kardashians, Miley Cyrus and Drake number among its most famous community members, but only one local resident can boast his very own ZIP code.
