Introduction
Before and after the recent Eurovision Song Contest 2024, many people have been talking about the legendary Swedish band ABBA. The reason: exactly half a century ago, the group won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with their hit song Waterloo, marking the beginning of a glorious journey.
However, the band’s journey came to an early end in 1982, after releasing eight studio albums and nearly 20 number-one singles. Currently, there is speculation that ABBA may be preparing for a second reunion, following their first comeback in 2021.
Let’s take a look back at the major events in the lives of ABBA’s members: Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Originally two married couples, they were at times as famous for their personal lives as they were for their music.
One Divorce After AnotherM
Agnetha Fältskog was once a shy, angelic-looking 19-year-old girl when she met Björn Ulvaeus, a young man five years her senior and a member of a popular folk band at the time.
They quickly fell for each other and got married two years later—in 1971, just one year before ABBA was officially formed.
They later had two children together—Linda and Peter. However, six years into the marriage, their relationship faced serious difficulties.
In 1979, at the height of ABBA’s fame, the couple shocked fans by announcing their separation.
Just one week after the breakup, Björn began dating Lena Källersjö—a Swedish television presenter.
The two met at a New Year’s Eve party hosted by fellow ABBA members Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
Two years later, in 1981, they got married—just six months after Agnetha had finalized the divorce—and Björn went on to have two more children with his second wife.
At the time, Björn and Agnetha described their split as a “happy divorce,” but the reality proved quite the opposite. Agnetha later admitted that she felt “deeply unsettled” and needed counseling.
The pain of their separation was immortalized in ABBA’s hit song The Winner Takes It All, and for many years, fans have wondered whether Björn had been deliberately cruel in asking his ex-wife to sing such heartbreaking lyrics: “Tell me, does she kiss you like I used to kiss you?”
In 1990, Agnetha married for the second time—this time to Swedish surgeon Tomas Sonnenfeld.
The marriage was conducted in secret at Agnetha’s insistence, and it only became public knowledge after their divorce three years later.
Meanwhile, Björn and Lena divorced in 2022 after 41 years of marriage and two children together.
The other two members of the group, Benny and Anni-Frid, married in 1978 after nine years of dating but sadly divorced in 1981.
Anni-Frid has retained her title since her 1992 marriage to Prince Heinrich Ruzzo Reuss of Plauen. Her full title is Princess Anni-Frid Reuss, Countess of Plauen.
A well-known environmental advocate, Lyngstad is actively involved in charitable work. She had two children from a relationship prior to her time with Benny.
Since 2007, Anni-Frid has been in a relationship with British aristocrat Henry Smith, 5th Viscount Hambleden, a descendant of the founders of the British stationery giant WHSmith.
Benny has two children from relationships before and after his marriage to Anni-Frid. He also has one son, Ludvig, who was one of the producers of ABBA Voyage.
**After ABBA disbanded, Benny co-wrote the stage musical Chess with his former bandmate Björn. He also composed additional music for the 2008 film release of Mamma Mia!.
Benny later founded the folk music group Benny Anderssons Orkester, also known as BAO, which includes some of Sweden’s most renowned folk musicians. The group has released five studio albums to date.
To Be Continued…