Introduction
At 78, ABBA’s Anni-Frid Lyngstad Reveals Her Painful Past
The video explores the difficult and often hidden life story of Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad, one of ABBA’s lead vocalists. Born in 1945 to a Norwegian mother and a German soldier father during World War II, Frida was one of the so-called “children of shame” from the Nazi Lebensborn program. Her early years were marked by stigma, social rejection, and tragedy. Her mother died when Frida was very young, leaving her to be raised by her grandmother in Sweden under difficult circumstances.
Despite this painful start, Frida found refuge in music. By age 13, she was already singing professionally, her unique voice drawing attention. She later married and had children, but personal struggles—including divorce and the death of her grandmother—deepened her emotional challenges. Her relationship with Benny Andersson of ABBA became central both to her personal life and to the band’s success, though their eventual breakup mirrored ABBA’s dissolution.
In 1977, she finally met her father for the first time, thanks to efforts sparked by her half-brother and support from Benny. Still, much of her life was marked by heartbreak: the loss of her daughter in a car accident and the death of her second husband, Prince Heinrich Ruzzo of Reuss, from cancer.
Despite these tragedies, Frida rebuilt her life. She married into European nobility, maintained ties with the Swedish royal family, and later found lasting companionship with British aristocrat Henry Smith, Viscount Hambleden. In recent years, she has reconnected with ABBA through their reunion projects, including the Voyage album and virtual tour.
At 78, Anni-Frid now speaks more openly about her past, no longer hiding the painful truths of her childhood and losses. Her journey is one of resilience, survival, and the power of music to heal even the deepest wounds.