Sass Jordan Dies at 65: What We Know About the Canadian Rock Singer

Canadian rock singer Sass Jordan has died at 65, ending a career that spanned nearly four decades. According to her family, she died peacefully on October 2, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. CBC News reports that family spokesperson Eric Alper shared the statement, and the family then posted it on her social media accounts on October 3.

The family called her “an inimitable force of nature” and “an irreplaceable being of light and joy.” Her family has not shared a cause of death, so this guide sticks to what her family and major news outlets have confirmed.

Quick answer: Sass Jordan, the Juno Award-winning singer behind “Make You a Believer” and a judge on all six seasons of Canadian Idol, died on October 2, 2026, at age 65. However, nobody has disclosed the cause of death.

Sass Jordan at a Glance

Detail	What to know
Full name	Sarah “Sass” Jordan
Died	October 2, 2026
Age	65
Born	December 23, 1960, in Birmingham, England
Raised in	Montreal, Canada
Best known for	“Make You a Believer,” “High Road Easy,” “Tell Somebody”
TV role	Judge on all six seasons of Canadian Idol (2003 to 2008)
Husband	Derek Sharp
Cause of death	Not publicly disclosed

What Happened to Sass Jordan?

First, Billboard reports that Jordan’s family announced her death on Saturday, October 3, in an Instagram post. The post said she “peacefully crossed over to the other side” the day before. The family shared the news alongside a photo of Jordan holding a cat.

Meanwhile, Jordan had stepped back from the stage in recent months. Her team said she canceled her remaining 2026 performances because of a serious medical condition. However, reports differ on exactly when she made the announcement, and neither her family nor her team has named the condition.

Her Cause of Death Has Not Been Disclosed

Many people are searching for Jordan’s cause of death, so it helps to be clear. Nobody with direct knowledge has shared one, and because her family has kept that private, any claim about a specific illness remains unconfirmed.

That distinction matters while tributes spread online. So for now, the respectful approach is to wait for the family to share more, if they choose to.

How Old Was Sass Jordan? Clearing Up the Confusion

First, some early reports said Jordan was 63. However, CTV News corrected its story after the family spokesperson confirmed her age as 65. Billboard and other outlets also list her birth date as December 23, 1960.

Still, at least one widely used reference page lists a different birth year, which may explain why the wrong number appeared at first. So if you see conflicting ages, the figure from her family’s statement is the one to trust.

Sass Jordan’s Rock Career Started in Montreal

Jordan grew up in a creative home, because her parents, a French literature professor and a former ballerina, welcomed her in Birmingham, England. The Suburban reports that her father took a job at Concordia University, so the family moved to Montreal when she was three.

She also started performing early. By 16, she was singing in downtown Montreal clubs, and she later fronted local bands including The Pinups. Her debut album, Tell Somebody, came out in 1988 and included the songs “So Hard” and the title track. As a result, she won the Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist in 1989, and she moved to Los Angeles soon afterward.

Racine and “Make You a Believer”

Then her biggest commercial success arrived in 1992 with Racine. The album included “Make You a Believer” and “High Road Easy,” and it turned her gritty, powerful voice into a signature sound. In fact, according to Blues Rock Review, Billboard even named her its top female rock artist of 1992.

Jordan never built her voice around subtlety. Instead, she used a rasp and a raw power that made her songs instantly recognizable, at a time when women were still underrepresented in hard rock. In addition, she went on to tour with major acts including Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and Van Halen, according to Billboard.

The Taylor Hawkins Connection

One of the most memorable chapters of her story involves a young drummer named Taylor Hawkins. He played in her band in the 1990s, years before he became famous with Foo Fighters. Later, Hawkins credited her for his start, and he once said, “Sass taught me how to be in a rock and roll band,” according to The Suburban.

Dave Grohl also acknowledged her role, and he said, “If it weren’t for Sass Jordan, Taylor Hawkins wouldn’t be in Foo Fighters,” as Blues Rock Review reports. Meanwhile, in 2023, Jordan released Live in New York Ninety-Four, which preserved a 1994 show with Hawkins on drums.

Sass Jordan Became a Canadian Idol Judge

For many Canadian viewers, however, Jordan was more than a rock singer. She became a household name as a judge on Canadian Idol, and she stayed on the panel for all six seasons, from 2003 to 2008.

The role suited her, because she was direct, energetic, and willing to give contestants an honest reaction. In addition, the show introduced her to viewers who had never followed her rock records, which gave her a second major audience.

Her Later Career Turned to the Blues

Jordan kept recording long after her biggest rock hits. For example, in 2017, she revisited her breakthrough with Racine Revisited. Then she moved deeper into the blues with Rebel Moon Blues in 2020 and Bitches Blues in 2022. She recorded both blues albums with her husband, Derek Sharp, while signed to Stony Plain Records.

Meanwhile, Geoff Kulawick, the label’s former president, called her “bold, beautiful and brave,” as CBC reports. He also said he convinced her she could really belt out the blues. As a result, her final albums showed an artist still exploring her voice, and not just repeating her past.

Tributes to Sass Jordan

Tributes have focused on both her music and her character. For instance, Canadian producer and songwriter Derek Downham, who played drums alongside Jordan last December at Andy Kim’s annual holiday charity concert in Montreal, told CTV News that she was an inspiration to all young performers. He also said it was nice to see a strong female artist show people how it’s done.

That feeling matches how fans describe her, because many remember a singer with humor and warmth who never seemed confined to one lane.

Who Survives Sass Jordan?

According to Billboard and Blues Rock Review, Jordan leaves behind her husband, Derek Sharp, who has played with The Guess Who. In addition, she leaves her daughter, Stella Jordan-Sharp, her stepdaughter, Brianne Sharp, and her brother, Daniel Jordan.

Sass Jordan Career Timeline

Year	Career milestone
1960	Born in Birmingham, England
1988	Released her debut album, Tell Somebody
1989	Won the Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist
1992	Released Racine with “Make You a Believer” and “High Road Easy”
2003 to 2008	Served as a judge on all six seasons of Canadian Idol
2017	Released Racine Revisited
2020	Released the blues album Rebel Moon Blues
2022	Released Bitches Blues
2023	Released Live in New York Ninety-Four
October 2, 2026	Died at 65, surrounded by family

What We Know and What We Don’t

Confirmed

• Jordan died on October 2, 2026, surrounded by family, at age 65.
• Her family announced the news on October 3 through her social media accounts.
• She had canceled her remaining 2026 performances because of a serious medical condition.

Not confirmed

• Her cause of death.
• The specific medical condition behind her canceled shows.

So until her family or an authorized representative shares more, claims about a particular illness stay speculation.

Sass Jordan’s Legacy

It would be easy to remember Jordan only for “Make You a Believer.” Yet her career was much broader, because she won a Juno early on, recorded rock and blues albums, toured with some of the biggest names in the genre, helped launch a future Foo Fighters drummer, and spent six seasons on national television.

She also helped open a path for women in Canadian rock at a time when few were visible. That may be the more lasting measure of her career, because she spent decades proving that the voice belonged on stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old was Sass Jordan when she died?

She was 65. Although some early reports said 63, her family spokesperson confirmed that she was 65.

When did Sass Jordan die?

She died on October 2, 2026, and then her family announced it on October 3.

What was Sass Jordan’s cause of death?

Her family has not disclosed a cause, but she had recently stepped away from performing because of a serious medical condition.

What was Sass Jordan best known for?

She was best known for “Make You a Believer,” “High Road Easy,” and “Tell Somebody,” and for her six seasons as a Canadian Idol judge.

Who was Sass Jordan married to?

She married musician Derek Sharp, and they worked together on her later blues albums.

Did Sass Jordan work with Taylor Hawkins?

Yes, because Hawkins played drums in her band in the 1990s, before he joined Foo Fighters.

Where was Sass Jordan from?

She came from Birmingham, England, but she grew up in Montreal.

Final Take

Sass Jordan’s death closes a remarkable chapter in Canadian rock. Her biggest songs made her famous, but her longevity tells the fuller story, because she moved from hard rock to blues, from concert stages to national television, and she kept making music decades after her breakthrough.

The cause of her death remains private, and for now, that is where the facts should stop. Still, what is clear is the legacy she leaves behind: a distinctive voice, a fearless stage presence, and a career that never stayed in one genre.

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