For decades, the love story between ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog was wrapped in golden memories and bittersweet melodies. But now, in an emotional and unfiltered reflection, Björn has finally broken his silence — revealing the truth behind their marriage, the heartbreak of their divorce, and the lingering emotional scars that shaped one of the most iconic musical partnerships in history.
“The Winner Takes It All” Was More Than a Song
ABBA’s legendary breakup ballad The Winner Takes It All has long been interpreted as a raw confessional about Björn and Agnetha’s divorce. Fans have always asked: Was it cruel of Björn to ask Agnetha to sing “Tell me, does he kiss you like I used to kiss you?” — a line so painfully intimate?
Though Björn insisted for years that the song wasn’t autobiographical, he has now admitted that it reflected far more emotional truth than he previously acknowledged.
A Love That Began in Music
Their love story began quietly in the late 1960s. Björn, a rising folk-pop artist, met Agnetha — a 19-year-old Swedish singer already catching the public’s attention. Their connection, while initially awkward, soon turned magnetic. They moved in together, shared musical dreams, and married in 1971, just before ABBA was officially formed.
They had two children, Linda and Peter. For the public, they were Sweden’s golden couple — beautiful, talented, and destined for stardom.
Fame, Pressure, and a Private Collapse
Behind the scenes, however, the pressures of global fame, nonstop touring, and the immense weight of ABBA’s success began to take their toll. By 1979, after eight years of marriage, they divorced.
At the time, the media called it “a happy divorce.” Smiling interviews masked the pain. But now, both Björn and Agnetha have admitted the truth: there was nothing happy about it.
Björn has spoken with a calm honesty: “Of course it was difficult. Anyone who’s been through divorce knows how painful it is.” Agnetha, for her part, later revealed that she felt “emotionally crushed.” She sought therapy to deal with the emotional fallout, while still expected to perform and maintain the image of the radiant ABBA star.
The Song That Cut Too Deep
While Björn wrote The Winner Takes It All, it was Agnetha who sang it — and her voice trembled with vulnerability. In the 2024 documentary ABBA: Against All Odds, she opened up:
“I’m a very sensitive person. I really tried to pour all my real-life feelings into the song.”
Fans could hear the heartbreak in every note. It wasn’t just a performance — it was a confession.
New Love, New Beginnings — and Controversy
In 2024, Björn, now 79, stunned the public when he married Christina Sas, a woman 28 years his junior. Their relationship, while filled with genuine love and respect, raised eyebrows due to the timing: his divorce from his second wife, Lena Kallersjö, had only been publicly announced in 2022 after 41 years of marriage.
Despite the criticism, Björn defended his choices with honesty and maturity. “When you fall in love with someone much younger, you ask yourself: am I doing the right thing?” he reflected. But he and Christina felt a powerful connection. “I surrendered,” he said simply. “If she wants to live with someone older and we love each other, that’s enough.”
They married in a private, joyful ceremony in Copenhagen in September 2024.
Clearing the Rumors Once and For All
For years, tabloids swirled with unproven stories: alleged affairs, mysterious psychiatrists, and wild post-divorce parties. In this latest interview, Björn addressed them all — with clarity and grace.
He debunked the idea that a therapist caused his split from Agnetha. “That’s absurd,” he said firmly. Both had visited a therapist named Joakim Lonnbäck in the late 1970s in an effort to save their marriage, but no affair occurred. Nor did he have a romantic relationship with Liz Mitchell of Boney M, despite old gossip from a TV special they filmed together.
Björn’s message was clear: “Just because someone smiles or dances with someone doesn’t mean it’s a love story.”
A Relationship Transformed, Not Lost
In perhaps the most moving part of his confession, Björn admitted that his relationship with Agnetha has evolved into something surprisingly positive: “We get along better now than when we were married.”
No longer bound by the expectations of romance, they’ve reconnected as parents, collaborators, and lifelong friends. It’s a story of healing, not regret.
Did the Divorce Endanger ABBA?
Björn acknowledged that their breakup wasn’t without impact on ABBA’s music. “Maybe the divorce was a factor,” he said. But more than emotional turmoil, it came down to musical perfectionism. He and Benny simply didn’t feel their new material was strong enough at the time.
And as for their children? Björn and Agnetha agreed on a respectful and balanced custody arrangement. “The children stayed with Agnetha, but I could see them whenever I needed. We both stayed involved.”
Conclusion: The Pain Behind the Perfection
Björn and Agnetha’s love story wasn’t just written in tabloids or songs — it was lived, felt, and carried by two people who were trying to navigate fame, love, and heartbreak under the brightest of spotlights. For years, they kept the pain hidden behind the polished smiles and chart-topping hits.
Now, Björn’s confessions give fans something far more powerful than gossip: truth. The truth that love can be beautiful and still fail. That even when two people part ways, mutual respect and healing are possible. And that some stories — like ABBA’s — don’t end with a break-up… they evolve into something deeper.