Sass Jordan, the Canadian rock singer whose 1990s hits “Make You a Believer” and “You Don’t Have to Remind Me” helped define a moment in mainstream rock, has died at 65. Her family announced her passing on October 2nd, saying she died “surrounded by her loving family.”
Jordan had canceled her remaining 2026 performances after playing her last show in July. A statement from her team cited a “serious medical condition” at the time. No specific cause of death has been revealed.
Early Hits and the Racine Era
Jordan was born in England but raised in Canada after her family moved there when she was 3 years old. Her career began in Canada, where she scored numerous rock hits from 1988 to 1998. Her breakthrough came in the United States with her 1992 sophomore album, Racine.
Racine yielded the Mainstream Rock hits “Make You a Believer” and “You Don’t Have to Remind Me.” She followed that with “High Road Easy,” which reached the Top 10 of the rock chart, off her 1994 album Rats. Those songs carried her from regional success to national attention.
Touring With the Big Names
On the road, Jordan toured with some of rock’s biggest acts. Her touring partners included Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Van Halen, and AC/DC. That resume placed her squarely in the center of the genre’s touring circuit in the 1990s.
She also recorded the duet “Trust in Me” with Joe Cocker for the mega-selling soundtrack to the movie The Bodyguard. That track gave her a second platform outside her solo work, reaching listeners who might not have tuned in otherwise.
The Mentorship That Changed Foo Fighters
One of the most significant chapters of Jordan’s career involved a young drummer named Taylor Hawkins. In the early 1990s, Jordan took Hawkins out on tour as her drummer. That connection set him on a path that eventually led to Foo Fighters.
At a 2015 Foo Fighters concert, Hawkins and Dave Grohl welcomed Jordan to the stage. Grohl told the crowd, “If it weren’t for Sass Jordan, Taylor Hawkins wouldn’t be in Foo Fighters.” The statement made that night was a direct acknowledgment of the role Jordan played in launching Hawkins’ career.
Later Years and Family Life
Jordan served as a judge on Canadian Idol from 2003 to 2008. She was married to Derek Sharp, who was the lead singer of The Guess Who from 2008 to 2024. She is also survived by her daughter Stella and stepdaughter Brianne.
Her publicist, Eric Alper, issued a statement after her death. “Over four decades, she gave Canadian rock one of its most recognizable voices, carved out space for women in a genre long dominated by men, and opened doors for the young musicians who came through her band,” Alper said.
Legacy in Numbers
- Born in England, raised in Canada
- Hit albums: Racine (1992), Rats (1994)
- Mainstream Rock hits: “Make You a Believer,” “You Don’t Have to Remind Me,” “High Road Easy”
- Tours with Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Van Halen, AC/DC
- Duets: “Trust in Me” with Joe Cocker
- Judge on Canadian Idol (2003–2008)
What Her Death Leaves Behind
Jordan’s death closes a chapter on a career that spanned four decades. Her voice was one of the most recognizable in Canadian rock, and her work with Hawkins helped shape the sound of a band that would become one of rock’s most successful acts.
The loss of Jordan removes a figure who was not just a performer but a mentor. Hawkins’ own career is a direct extension of the opportunities she provided. Without Jordan, there might not have been a Foo Fighters drummer named Taylor Hawkins.
A Life of Music and Mentoring
Sass Jordan’s career was defined by two things: her records and the people she helped. Her hits remain a part of the rock catalog. Her mentoring shaped a generation of musicians, including one who became a fixture of one of rock’s most successful bands.
Her family’s statement described her as “an inimitable force of nature. An irreplaceable being of light and joy!” Those words capture the warmth and presence she brought to everything she touched.
For fans who grew up on “Make You a Believer” and “You Don’t Have to Remind Me,” the news comes as a reminder of how quickly the music industry moves. A voice that filled arenas in the 1990s can disappear from the headlines within a decade.
Final Words
The music lives on. The influence endures. Sass Jordan’s legacy is the sound of a generation of rock radio, and the careers of the musicians she lifted along the way.
Our condolences go out to Sass Jordan’s family and friends during this difficult time. Watch the video for “Make You a Believer” and see footage of Foo Fighters welcoming her to the stage below.
See the video the story is built around at Consequence.
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