Sass Jordan

About Sass Jordan

Sarah "Sass" Jordan was a pioneering Canadian rock singer, songwriter, and television personality known for her gritty, blues-infused vocal power and presence in North American rock.

Born in Birmingham, England, and raised in Montreal, she launched her solo career with her 1988 debut album Tell Somebody. The title track earned her the 1989 Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist.

Her acclaimed 1992 album Racine solidified her spot as one of Canada's top rock acts, leading Billboard magazine to name her the Top Female Rock Artist of the Year in 1992. Hit singles included "Make You a Believer" and "High Road Easy".

In 1994, Jordan hired a 22-year-old Taylor Hawkins to be her touring drummer—giving him his first major professional rock break before he joined Alanis Morissette and subsequently the Foo Fighters. Hawkins and Dave Grohl frequently credited Jordan for launching Hawkins' career, often reuniting on stage in later years.

Sass also performed on Canadian Idol where she served as a main judge for all six seasons of Canadian Idol (2003–2008) alongside Jake Gold, Farley Flex, and Zack Werner. Also, she played Janis Joplin in the off-Broadway musical Love, Janis in 2001.

Jordan was married to singer-songwriter Derek Sharp (vocalist of The Guess Who). In September 2026, she abruptly cancelled remaining tour dates due to health issues. She passed away peacefully at age 65 on October 2, 2026, surrounded by family.