FÄltskog, Agnetha (1950–)

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FÄltskog, Agnetha (1950–)

Member of Swedish singing group ABBA. Name variations: Agnetha Ulvaeus; Agnetha Faltskog; in early days, known in Great Britain as Anna. Pronunciation: Ann-yetta. Born Agnetha Ase Faltskog in Jonkoping, Sweden, April 15, 1950; m. Björn Ulvaeus (sep. 1978, div.).

Began singing with bands (1965); had #1 hit single in Sweden (1968) with "I Was So In Love" and other solo hits before and during time with ABBA; started living with Bjoörn Ulvaeus, then songwriter for music entrepreneur Stig Anderson, and appeared in Jesus Christ Superstar as Mary Magdalene (1970); scored a hit with Swedish recording of "I Don't Know How to Love Him"; with Frida Lyngstad, Benny Andersson, and Björn Ulvaeus, formed singing group ABBA (acronym of their 1st initials); gained international renown with group when "Waterloo" won Eurovision Song Contest (1974); with ABBA, had more than a dozen Top-40 hits in US, including "Dancing Queen," "Knowing Me, Knowing You," and "Fernando," before split up (1982); released solo albums, Wrap Your Arms Around Me (1983), Eyes of a Woman (1985) and I Stand Alone (1988).

See also ABBA—The Movie; and Women in World History.