For decades, fans believed the love story between ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog was a fairytale.

 

 

They were the golden couple of pop — talented, beautiful, and completely in sync on stage.

 

But behind the glitter and music was a deeply emotional and painful reality that few truly understood.

 

Now, after years of silence, Björn has finally opened up about the heartbreaking truth behind their divorce and the iconic song The Winner

Takes It All.

 

When ABBA dominated the charts, their fans believed the magic extended beyond the music into their personal lives.

 

But in 1980, everything changed when Björn and Agnetha shocked the world by filing for divorce.

 

It was more than just a celebrity breakup — it marked the beginning of the end for one of music’s most beloved groups.

 

Years later, Björn revealed the raw emotions that led to their split — and how they shaped one of ABBA’s most powerful ballads.

 

 

The story began in the summer of 1979, on the island of Viggsö, where Björn and his writing partner Benny Andersson were working on new

music.

 

As his marriage quietly unraveled, Björn turned to the only outlet he knew: songwriting.

 

Originally titled The Story of My Life, the song was a direct expression of his inner turmoil.

 

Björn poured his heartbreak, confusion, and regret into the lyrics.

He later admitted to being drunk while writing the song — a rare confession that highlighted just how emotional the process was.

 

He finished the lyrics in a single hour, fueled by whiskey and years of pain.

 

What made it even more devastating?

 

He handed the lyrics to Agnetha and asked her to sing them.

 

 

She read the words, recognized the truth behind them, and cried.

 

Although Björn claimed at the time that the song was fictional, the emotion in Agnetha’s voice told a different story.

 

 

To this day, fans are convinced The Winner Takes It All was about their real-life divorce.

 

And it’s hard to deny, given the heart-wrenching performance that followed.

 

But why would Björn make his ex-wife sing such a painful song?

 

The answer lies in the complexity of their relationship.

 

Though they appeared perfect to the public, Björn and Agnetha were struggling behind closed doors.

 

Their careers consumed them, and even their children took a backseat to the demands of fame.

 

From the very beginning, red flags were present.

 

Agnetha craved comfort and emotional security, while Björn sought control and creative freedom.

 

As their differences deepened, their bond began to fracture.

 

Agnetha grew increasingly anxious and fearful.

 

She worried about everything — from fan stalkers to airplane crashes to their children being orphaned while on tour.

 

 

Her anxiety turned into night terrors and emotional instability.

 

Her desperation for reassurance made her cling tighter to Björn.

 

But instead of comforting her, he became distant and cold.

 

Eventually, Björn may have sought emotional and physical fulfillment outside the marriage.

 

This, in turn, fueled Agnetha’s jealousy and deepened the emotional rift between them.

 

Their personal lives soon began affecting ABBA’s music, and the group’s popularity started to fade.

 

Both Björn and Agnetha agreed to divorce — but not without pain.

 

While Björn seemed to handle the breakup with composure, Agnetha’s life took a dark turn.

 

Stardom, single motherhood, and heartbreak became a toxic mix.

 

She spiraled into a series of failed relationships, including affairs with a hockey star, a fashion designer, and even her psychiatrist.

 

She also had a romantic relationship with a detective who was helping her after she received disturbing kidnapping threats.

 

 

Her life became a patchwork of emotional wounds she never truly healed from.

 

The deepest blow came when she lost both her parents — her mother to suicide and her father just a year later.

 

During this time, she became reclusive, isolated, and distrustful of nearly everyone around her.

 

She suffered silently, unable or unwilling to ask for help.

 

Meanwhile, Björn moved on with remarkable ease.

 

He continued writing and performing with Benny Andersson.

 

He also found love again with Lena Källersjö, whom he married and stayed with for over four decades.

 

 

He looked healthier, happier, and more stable than ever.

 

It begs the question: who truly won in this heartbreaking story?

 

Björn once said there was no winner or loser in his divorce from Agnetha.

 

But the contrast between their post-divorce lives suggests otherwise.

 

One moved on to a new chapter with love and stability.

 

The other remained trapped in the past, haunted by memories and mental health struggles.

 

For Agnetha, the pain never fully disappeared.

 

She continues to live a private life, far from the spotlight, still battling the demons left behind by love, fame, and heartbreak.

 

 

So, when you hear The Winner Takes It All, listen closely.

 

Because it’s not just a song.

 

It’s a cry from a broken heart — one that never truly healed.