Agnetha Faltskog facts: ABBA singer's age, family, husband, kids and career explained

24 June 2024, 15:52

Agnetha Faltskog of Abba Portrait
Agnetha Faltskog of Abba Portrait. Picture: Getty

By Tom Owen

Agnetha Fältskog, the iconic Swedish singer-songwriter, has left a lasting impact on the music industry with her powerful voice and captivating stage presence.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Best known as one of the lead vocalists of the legendary pop group ABBA, Fältskog’s journey to stardom began long before her ABBA days.

The Swedish star showed an early talent for music, releasing her first solo single at the age of 17. Her remarkable career spans decades, marked by chart-topping hits, acclaimed solo projects, and a resilience that has endeared her to fans worldwide.

From the height of ABBA’s global success to her introspective solo albums, Agnetha Fältskog’s life and career continue to inspire and enchant music lovers everywhere.

  1. How old is Agnetha Faltskog?

    Agnetha in 2022
    Agnetha in 2022. Picture: Getty

    Agnetha Fältskog, born on April 5, 1950, is currently 74 years old as of 2024.

    Agnetha was born in Jönköping, Sweden. Her parents were Knut Ingvar Fältskog, a department store manager, and Birgit Margareta Johansson, a homemaker.

    She has one sibling, a younger sister named Mona, who was born in 1955.

  2. How did she get her start in music and when did she join ABBA?

    SWEDEN-MUSIC-ABBA
    SWEDEN-MUSIC-ABBA. Picture: Getty

    Agnetha Fältskog's music career began in her teenage years.

    At 16, she joined a local dance band called Bernt Enghardt's band, where she started to gain attention for her singing talent. Her breakthrough came in 1967 when she released her debut single, "Jag var så kär" ("I Was So in Love"), which she wrote herself. The song quickly topped the Swedish charts, establishing her as a promising young artist.

    Her journey to joining ABBA began through her relationship with Björn Ulvaeus, whom she met in 1968. Their personal and professional partnership, along with her collaborations with Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, led to the formation of ABBA in the early 1970s.

    The group achieved international fame after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with their hit song 'Waterloo.' This victory catapulted them into global stardom, making ABBA one of the most successful pop groups in history.

  3. What did she do after ABBA broke up?

    AGNETHA FÄLTSKOG "If I ever thought you'd change your mind" (official video)

    After ABBA unofficially disbanded in 1982, Agnetha Fältskog pursued a solo career. She released her first post-ABBA solo album, Wrap Your Arms Around Me, in 1983, which was well-received and featured the hit single 'The Heat Is On'. This was followed by her second English-language album, Eyes of a Woman, in 1985, and her third, I Stand Alone, in 1987.

    In addition to her solo music career, Agnetha also ventured into acting, starring in the Swedish film Raskenstam in 1983. However, in the 1990s, she withdrew from public life, focusing on her personal interests such as astrology, yoga, and horse riding while living in her secluded home on the island of Ekerö, near Stockholm.

    Agnetha made a notable comeback in 2004 with the release of the album My Colouring Book, which featured covers of her favourite songs from the 1960s. She returned to the music scene again in 2013 with the album A, which received positive reviews and included the single 'When You Really Loved Someone'.

    In recent years, Agnetha has participated in ABBA's reunion activities, including the release of the group's album Voyage in 2021. This marked a significant return to the spotlight for the iconic singer.

  4. Who is Agnetha's husband and does she have kids?

    Bjorn and Agnetha in 1979
    Bjorn and Agnetha in 1979. Picture: Getty

    Agnetha Fältskog has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Björn Ulvaeus, a fellow member of ABBA, on July 6, 1971.

    The couple had two children together: a daughter named Linda, born in 1973, and a son named Peter Christian, born in 1977. Agnetha and Björn divorced in 1980.

    Her second marriage was to Tomas Sonnenfeld, a Swedish surgeon, in 1990. However, this marriage was short-lived, and they divorced in 1993.

    Agnetha has remained private about her personal life since then. She is known to be a devoted mother and grandmother, living a quieter life away from the public eye.