Introduction
Anni-Frid Lyngstad’s Rare Photos and Untold Stories
The video explores the remarkable yet often tragic life of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, better known as Frida of ABBA, weaving rare photos with untold stories.
Frida’s beginnings were marked by hardship. Born in Norway in 1945 from a forbidden romance between her Norwegian mother and a German soldier, she faced stigma as a “war child.” Her mother died when Frida was only two, and she was raised by her grandmother, who introduced her to music. Despite her grandmother’s encouragement, she never lived to see Frida’s success.
Frida began performing as a teenager, joining orchestras and winning a local talent contest that secured her a recording contract. Her early singles brought little success, but television appearances and cabaret shows eventually led to her meeting Benny Andersson. Through him, and alongside Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog, ABBA was born. Their big break came with winning Eurovision in 1974 with “Waterloo,” launching years of international fame with hits like SOS, Mamma Mia, and Dancing Queen.
Behind the success, personal struggles grew. Frida married Benny in 1978, but their relationship crumbled by 1980 amid emotional distance and Benny’s affair, ending in divorce. This, combined with Björn and Agnetha’s split, contributed to ABBA’s disbandment in 1982. Frida later admitted regret that no reunion came sooner, though she eventually found closure with the group’s 2021 Voyage album.
Outside ABBA, Frida enjoyed early solo success with the hit single I Know There’s Something Going On, though her career slowed afterward. Her personal life brought both joy and tragedy: two children from her first marriage, heartbreak from Benny, and later marriage to Prince Heinrich Ruzzo of Reuss, who tragically died in 1999. She eventually found love again with British aristocrat Henry Smith, with whom she has lived since.
Now 78, Frida has largely stepped back from music but remains admired worldwide. With an estimated net worth of $300 million, she continues to be remembered not just for her glamour as a “Dancing Queen,” but as a resilient woman who overcame stigma, heartbreak, and loss, channeling her life into music that still resonates with generations.