Sass Jordan, Rock Singer Who Helped Launch Taylor Hawkins’ Career, Dead at 65

Sass Jordan, a Canadian singer who gained mainstream success in the early 1990s and played a pivotal role in launching the career of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, passed away on October 2nd at the age of 65. Jordan had called off her remaining 2026 performances due to a "serious medical condition," though the exact cause of her death remains undisclosed.

In a statement, her family shared that she was surrounded by her loved ones as she "peacefully crossed over to the other side," expressing their eternal gratitude for her presence in their lives. Born in England but raised in Canada after her family's relocation when she was three, Jordan achieved numerous rock hits in Canada between 1988 and 1998.

Her breakthrough in the United States came with her 1992 album, Racine, which produced the Mainstream Rock hits "Make You a Believer" and "You Don’t Have to Remind Me." Jordan's influence extended beyond her music career, as she became the first female drummer for a major rock band and opened doors for future generations of musicians through her tours with renowned artists like Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Van Halen, and AC/DC.

In 1994, she recorded the duet "Trust in Me" with Joe Cocker for the hit movie soundtrack The Bodyguard. While touring with various artists, Jordan discovered and mentored Taylor Hawkins, who would later become a drummer for Foo Fighters. Hawkins fondly recalled Jordan's impact on his career at a 2015 Foo Fighters concert, stating that "If it weren’t for Sass Jordan, Taylor Hawkins wouldn’t be in Foo Fighters."

In addition to her musical achievements, Jordan served as a judge on Canadian Idol from 2003 to 2008 and was married to Derek Sharp, the lead singer of The Guess Who from 2008 to 2024. Jordan is survived by her daughter Stella and stepdaughter Brianne. Condolences are extended to Jordan's family and friends as they mourn the loss of this inimitable force of nature and light.