Sass Jordan, the Canadian blues-rock singer and longtime Canadian Idol judge, died on October 2, 2026, at 65. Her family confirmed her death in a statement reported by Billboard Canada’s obituary, saying she died peacefully surrounded by loved ones.
A cause of death has not been reported. The publication noted that she had canceled tour dates in September because of health concerns.
Sass Jordan’s path from Montreal to rock radio
Born in Birmingham, England, and raised in Montreal, Jordan built a career around a voice that moved comfortably between rock and blues. Her official biography names influences including Paul Rodgers, Bonnie Raitt, Tina Turner and Chaka Khan.
Her debut album, Tell Somebody, arrived in 1988. A Juno Award followed in 1989, giving her growing solo career another milestone.
That early work remains a useful starting point for listeners discovering her music. It introduces the singer before the bigger rock records and television appearances that followed.
The albums and collaborations that defined her career
Sass Jordan released Racine in 1992, with songs including “Make You a Believer,” “I Want to Believe” and “You Don’t Have to Remind Me.” Her next album, Rats, arrived in 1994 and included “High Road Easy” and “Sun’s Gonna Rise.”
In 1992, she also recorded “Trust in Me” with Joe Cocker for The Bodyguard soundtrack. Her career brought collaborations and shared stages with artists including Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones and AC/DC, whose continuing live story features in our AC/DC tour coverage.
Taylor Hawkins played in her touring band before joining Foo Fighters. For more on the band’s later drummer history, see our coverage of Dave Grohl and Josh Freese.
A familiar face on Canadian Idol
Sass Jordan joined Canadian Idol in 2003 and remained a judge through all six seasons. She was the only woman on the panel, bringing her experience as a working singer to a different kind of stage.
Television was one part of her career rather than its endpoint. The recordings continued long after her years on the show.
A blues catalog worth revisiting
Her official discography lists Rebel Moon Blues in 2020 and Bitches Blues in 2022. It also documents Racine Revisited, her 2017 return to songs from the original album.
For fans remembering Sass Jordan, those releases offer a way to follow her voice across different decades. New listeners can begin with the familiar rock singles, then explore the blues recordings that became another chapter of her musical life.
