GOSSIP & RUMORS: ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, 79, had ‘severe problems’ with 28-year age gap with wife

Björn Ulvaeus, one of the iconic voices behind ABBA, has shared details about how he overcame his concerns about the 28-year-age gap between him and his wife, Christina Sas.

Speaking with The Times in an interview published Thursday, the Swedish musician, who turns 80 later this month, recalled how meeting Sas, 52, was “love at first sight.” However, the significant difference in their ages prompted some initial inner conflict.

“Immediately I had severe problems with myself and the age different. When a man or a woman meets someone much younger and falls in love they think, ‘Am I doing the right thing?’” he admitted.

Ultimately, Ulvaeus decided to let go of his anxieties. “In the end I just gave up. I decided, ‘It’s up to her — if she wants to live with someone older and we love each other…’” he said. “Age doesn’t come between us now — we rarely even talk about it.”

Delving into what “love at first sight” means to him, Ulvaeus described the sensation as “spectacular” and “fantastic,” emphasizing the importance of emotional openness. “You have to be very open, with your antennas out,” he said. “You have to be adventurous and ready to take a chance.”

The couple married last September in Copenhagen. Sas, a music industry professional, met Ulvaeus in 2021 while working on the rollout of ABBA’s final studio project, “Voyage.” They quickly formed a strong connection and by spring 2022 — not long after Ulvaeus finalized his divorce from his second wife — the pair began dating.

This marks Ulvaeus’ third marriage. He was previously wed to fellow ABBA member Agnetha Fältskog from 1971 to 1980. The two share two children: Linda, 52, and Peter, 47. Ulvaeus also has two daughters with his second wife, music journalist Lena Källersjö, whom he was married to for 41 years.

In addition to opening up about his personal life, Ulvaeus touched on the ongoing success of the ABBA Voyage concert in London, which uses digital avatars to recreate live performances of the band’s greatest hits.

The immersive show is scheduled to run until January.

Looking to the future, Ulvaeus admitted there are questions about how the show might evolve. “We are allowed to stay in our current venue till 2029, but ticket sales might drop, you never know. But is it right to continue when someone is dead? That’s a big ethical question,” he said.

Ulvaeus also pointed to Agatha Christie’s play “The Mousetrap,” which has ran in London uninterrupted since 1952, as a possible model for the Voyage concert. “Did Agatha Christie have a problem with ‘The Mousetrap?’ When you’re gone, you’re gone but… my kids might appreciate it,” he added.