Canadian rock star and longtime Canadian Idol judge Sass Jordan has died at 65. Her family announced that she passed away peacefully on October 2, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. They remembered her as an “inimitable force of nature” and an irreplaceable source of light and joy. Her cause of death has not been publicly revealed.

Born in Birmingham, England, in 1960, Jordan moved to Montreal with her family as a young child. She began performing as a teenager before launching her solo career with the 1988 album Tell Somebody. The following year, she won a Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist, establishing herself as one of Canada’s notable rock voices.

Her 1992 album Racine became the most successful release of her career, featuring songs such as “Make You a Believer.” She later recorded music connected to The Bodyguard soundtrack, toured with major rock acts and performed alongside musicians including a young Taylor Hawkins, who would later become famous with Foo Fighters. Jordan also portrayed Janis Joplin in Love, Janis.

Jordan became widely known to television audiences as a judge on all six seasons of Canadian Idol. She continued making music for decades, returning to her blues roots with Rebel Moon Blues in 2020 and Bitches Blues in 2022. Weeks before her death, she had canceled remaining 2026 performances because of a serious medical condition. Her powerful voice and unmistakable presence leave behind a lasting legacy in Canadian rock. 💔