Anni-Frid Lyngstad, known to millions as Frida of ABBA, turns 80 today. The singer, who rose from a difficult childhood to become part of one of the world's most successful bands, made a surprise appearance at ABBA Voyage in London earlier this year to thank fans for their support.
Born in Norway in 1945 to a German SS officer father and a young mother who died when Frida was two, she was raised by her grandmother in Sweden. Despite the hardship, she showed early musical talent, making her stage debut at age 11. She won a Swedish TV talent contest in 1967, leading to a record deal and her first solo album.
In 1969, she met Benny Andersson, and together with Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus, they formed ABBA. The group won Eurovision in 1974 with 'Waterloo' and went on to global fame, with Frida's mezzo-soprano voice featuring on hits like 'Fernando', 'Knowing Me, Knowing You', and 'Dancing Queen'.
Frida's personal life included a marriage to childhood sweetheart Ragnar Fredriksson, with whom she had two children, and a later engagement to Benny. Her net worth is estimated at £220 million. Bandmate Björn Ulvaeus once said her life story could be a musical, calling it a classic rags-to-riches tale.
