Anni-Frid Lyngstad

Princess Anni-Frid Reuss, Dowager Countess of Plauen (Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad;[a] born 15 November 1945), widely known as Anni-Frid Lyngstad and also known by her nickname “Frida”, is a Norwegian-born Swedish singer, songwriter and environmentalist,[1] who is best known as one of the founding members and lead singers of the Swedish pop band ABBA. Born in Bjørkåsen (Ballangen), Norway, to a Norwegian mother and a German father, she grew up in Torshälla, Sweden, and started her first solo career there, as a jazz singer in 1967, through a talent competition called New Faces.

She won the competition with her song, “En ledig dag”, leading to a television appearance on Hylands Hörna on Dagen H; as a result, she was signed by EMI, and in turn was signed by Stig Anderson’s record label, Polar Music, after years of releasing several singles and an album, Frida under the earlier record label. Although she had moderate success in Sweden, as she was a contestant for Melodifestivalen 1969 with her song “Härlig är vår jord”, she did not reach international fame until she joined ABBA, which has sold over 150 million albums and singles worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music acts in history.