Introduction
Behind the Spotlight: ABBA’s Frida Breaks Her Silence About the Pain Behind Her Marriage to Benny Andersson
For decades, fans around the world saw Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Frida) and Benny Andersson as the perfect couple of ABBA—partners in both music and marriage. But behind the glittering stage lights and timeless hits was a heartbreaking story that Frida has only now chosen to reveal. In a recent interview, she opened up for the first time about her turbulent relationship with Benny—a bond filled with passion, silent sacrifices, and, ultimately, an unforgivable betrayal.
In 1978, Frida and Benny got married at the height of ABBA’s global fame. However, according to Frida, the cracks in their relationship had begun long before their wedding. Benny’s obsession with studio work gradually took over their lives, leaving little room for emotional intimacy. What should have been quiet evenings as a couple turned into endless nights of recording. Frida, someone who longed for connection and closeness, began to feel like a bystander in her husband’s world. She painfully realized she wasn’t just sharing Benny with music—but also with his creative partner and longtime friend, Björn Ulvaeus.
Years of emotional neglect and unresolved tension eventually reached a breaking point when Frida discovered Benny’s infidelity. She described the betrayal as a shock not only to their marriage but to her entire sense of self—as a woman, a partner, and an artist. Yet, despite the heartbreak, Frida refused to let the pain define her. Instead, she poured her emotions into her music, giving a raw, emotional depth to ABBA’s later songs that had never been heard before.
Today, in her later years, Frida looks back with a sense of understanding rather than bitterness. Though no longer life partners, she and Benny have found mutual respect and reconciliation through music. Their work together on ABBA’s 2021 reunion project was, as Frida describes, a healing experience. Her story is a powerful testament to the strength it takes to survive heartbreak—and a reminder that behind every legendary song lies a human story of love, loss, and resilience.