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'{{short description|Swedish singer}} {{BLP sources|date=January 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Carola Häggkvist | image = Carola i maj 2013.jpg | caption = Häggkvist in May 2013 | birth_name = Carola Maria Häggkvist | alias = {{hlist|Carola|Carola Søgaard}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1966|9|8}} | birth_place = [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]] | genre = {{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[Gospel music|gospel]]|[[Schlager music|schlager]]}} | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}} | years_active = 1983–present | label = [[Sonet Records|Sonet]] | associated_acts = [[Andreas Johnson]] | website = {{URL|www.carola.com/}} }} '''Carola Maria Häggkvist''' ({{IPA-sv|kaˈrôːla ˈhɛ̂ɡːkvɪst}}; born 8 September 1966), also known as simply '''Carola''', is a Swedish singer and songwriter. She has been among Sweden's most popular performers since the early 1980s and has released albums ranging from pop and [[disco]] to [[hymn]]s and [[folk music]].<ref name="esctv">Eurovision.tv. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060422195739/http://www.eurovision.tv/english/398.htm Carola will represent Sweden again]. Retrieved on 29 February 2008.</ref> Her debut album, ''[[Främling]]'' (1983), sold around one million copies and remains the biggest-selling album in Swedish music history.<ref name="carolaint">Carola International [http://www.carolainternational.com/history/index.html History – Biography]. Retrieved on 29 February 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106090711/http://www.carolainternational.com/history/index.html |date=6 November 2007}}</ref> She has also worked as a songwriter. During her career, she has recorded many top-selling albums and singles and is referred to as Sweden's most prominent female singer. Some of her biggest hits are "[[Främling (song)|Främling]]", "Tommy tycker om mig", "[[Fångad av en stormvind]]", "All the Reasons to Live", "I Believe in Love", "Genom allt", and "[[Invincible (Carola Häggkvist song)|Evighet]]". She has released records in various languages: Swedish, Dutch,<ref>{{cite web|title=Je Ogen Hebben Geen Geheimen|url=http://www.discogs.com/Carola-Je-Ogen-Hebben-Geen-Geheimen/release/833291|publisher=Discogs.com|access-date=13 October 2012|archive-date=31 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231140900/http://www.discogs.com/Carola-Je-Ogen-Hebben-Geen-Geheimen/release/833291|url-status=live}}</ref> German,<ref>{{cite web|title=Carola – Fremder|url=http://www.discogs.com/Carola-Fremder/release/2488693|publisher=Discogs.com|access-date=13 October 2012|archive-date=22 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622104020/http://www.discogs.com/Carola-Fremder/release/2488693|url-status=live}}</ref> English, Norwegian and Japanese.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fushigi Na Hitomi (Don't Tell Me What To Do)|url=http://www.discogs.com/Carola-Fushigi-Na-Hitomi/release/798179|publisher=Discogs.com|access-date=13 October 2012|archive-date=22 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622134207/http://www.discogs.com/Carola-Fushigi-Na-Hitomi/release/798179|url-status=live}}</ref> Häggkvist has represented Sweden at the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] on three occasions: in [[Eurovision Song Contest 1983|1983]], finishing third; in [[Eurovision Song Contest 1991|1991]], winning the contest; and in [[Eurovision Song Contest 2006|2006]], finishing fifth. ==Early life== Carola Maria Häggkvist was born on 8 September 1966 at [[Södersjukhuset]] in [[Stockholm]]. She grew up in [[Norsborg]], south of the Swedish capital. At the age of eight, she began to perform at Stockholm's Miniteatern; she also attended [[Adolf Fredrik's Music School]].<ref name="sydsvensk">Åsa Hagenblad (7 September 2006). [http://sydsvenskan.se/nojen/article182409.ece Carola: "Känns som att fylla kvinna"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417225106/http://sydsvenskan.se/nojen/article182409.ece |date=17 April 2008 }}. ''[[Sydsvenskan]]''. Retrieved on 29 February 2008.</ref><ref name="DN 121024">{{cite web |url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/ledare/ledarkronika/evafranchell/article15664562.ab |title=Alliansen premierar lärare i "fina" skolor |author=Eva Franchell |publisher=Dagens Nyheter (Swedish daily newspaper) |date=24 October 2012 |access-date=24 November 2014 |archive-date=25 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225154911/http://www.aftonbladet.se/ledare/ledarkronika/evafranchell/article15664562.ab |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1977, Häggkvist won a talent competition and appeared on television for the first time, on ''Sveriges magasin'', performing "Krokodilbarnets klagan".<ref name="gylleneskorbio">Gylleneskor.se. [http://gylleneskor.se/artikel/carola-vi-aelskar-dig-heja-sverige Carola vi älskar dig – Heja Sverige!]. Retrieved on 29 February 2008. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223030/http://gylleneskor.se/artikel/carola-vi-aelskar-dig-heja-sverige |date=3 March 2016}}</ref> ==Career== ===1981–1989: Early career and ''Främling''=== [[Image:Carolaojohn.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Carola and [[John Travolta]] in 1983]] In 1981, Swedish music promoter [[Bert Karlsson]] met then 15-year-old Häggkvist after she performed on the television series ''Hylands hörna'' and offered her the chance to take part in ''[[Melodifestivalen]]'', the Swedish selection for the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] in 1982. She turned down the offer. Songwriter [[Lasse Holm]] offered Häggkvist two of his songs for [[Melodifestivalen 1983]], "Mona Lisa" and "Främling". "Främling" was chosen, and with it Häggkvist won the right to represent Sweden at that year's Eurovision Song Contest in Munich. The song scored eight points, the highest possible mark, from all eleven regional juries. Häggkvist represented Sweden at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1983|Eurovision Song Contest]] on 23 April. She finished third in front of 6.1&nbsp;million Swedish television viewers, 84% of the country's population. This is still a record in Sweden.<ref name="gylleneskorbio"/> "Främling" became the title track to Häggkvist's debut album, which sold over one million copies, making it the biggest-selling album in Swedish history.<ref name="malmolund">Tara Moshizi (26 February 2008). [http://noje.malmolund.city.se/art/2302/carola_hyllades_av_kndiseliten/ Carola hyllades av kändiseliten]{{dead link|date=March 2017 |bot=BabbaQ |fix-attempted=yes}}. ''Malmö Lund City''. Retrieved on 29 February 2008.{{Dead link|date=January 2016}}</ref> After Eurovision, Häggkvist embarked on a tour of European television programmes, promoting "Främling" and performing in it several languages: in English as "Love Isn't Love", in German as "Fremder", and in Dutch as "Je ogen hebben geen geheimen". The album contained hits like "Mickey", "Liv", "Gloria" and "Tokyo". In December 1983, she released her first Christmas album, ''Julefrid med Carola'',<ref name="gylleneskorbio"/> which sold 200,000 copies. In 1984, Häggkvist released two top-selling pop/rock albums that together sold over 1&nbsp;million copies. "Tommy tycker om mig" became a huge hit in Sweden, together with "Hunger". She later travelled to Japan and recorded a single in Japanese.<ref name="esctv"/> In 1985, the [[Bee Gees]] collaborated with her on the album ''[[Runaway (Carola album)|Runaway]]'', which was written by the Gibb brothers and produced by [[Maurice Gibb]]. The record sold double platinum when released in Sweden the following year.<ref name="esctv"/> "The Runaway", "Brand New Heart", "Spread your wings" and "Radiate" became massive hits in Scandinavia. In 1987, Häggkvist embarked on a church tour with pianist [[Per-Erik Hallin]]. After this followed a career hiatus for the singer.<ref name="gylleneskorbio"/> ===1990–1991: New image, independence, and Eurovision victory=== In 1990, she returned to Melodifestivalen, with "[[Mitt i ett äventyr]]" (In the middle of an adventure). The song finished second in the festival, failing to earn Häggkvist the right to represent Sweden at Eurovision. [[Edin-Ådahl]] won the event.<ref name="thorsson">Leif Thorsson. ''Melodifestivalen genom tiderna'' (1999, second edition 2006). Stockholm: Premium Publishing AB. {{ISBN|91-89136-29-2}}.</ref> Her comeback album, titled ''[[Much More (album)|Much More]]'', was released, earning a gold certificate in Sweden.<ref name="esctv"/> However, Häggkvist and songwriter [[Stephan Berg]] had already begun planning another attempt at Eurovision. In 1991, she returned to Melodifestivalen with "[[Fångad av en stormvind]]" (Captured by a lovestorm). The song won the festival by thirty-two points and became the Swedish entry for the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1991|Eurovision Song Contest in Rome]].<ref name="thorsson"/> British bookmakers considered Häggkvist second favourite to win the contest.<ref>Terry Wogan. ''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1991]]'', [[BBC One]] commentary feed. Originally broadcast on 4 May 1991.</ref> On the night of the contest, with one voting jury left to announce their scores, three countries remained in contention to win the contest: Sweden, with 146 points; Israel, with 139; and France, with 134. Neither Israel nor Sweden won any points from the Italian jury, but France won twelve, leaving Sweden and France tied for first place with 146 at the conclusion of the voting. Sweden won the contest after a [[Election recount|recount]], having received five ten-point scores during the voting versus France's two.<ref>Eurovision.tv. [http://www.eurovision.tv/index/main?page=66&event=307#event_info_307 Eurovision Song Contest 1991] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828143907/http://www.eurovision.tv/index/main?page=66&event=307 |date=28 August 2008 }}. Retrieved on 1 March 2008.</ref> "Fångad av en stormvind" became a huge hit in Europe,<ref name="esctv"/> and was followed by a compilation album, ''Hits'', and a Christmas album, ''Jul''.<ref name="gylleneskorbio"/> After her victory, she released an international version of "Much More" and went on an extended promotional tour throughout Europe. Her album produced several hits, among them "I'll live" and "All the Reasons to Live". === 1992–2004: Albums, tours, and musicals === [[File:Carola Häggkvist 2005.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Carola in concert]] Häggkvist was the first Scandinavian pop artist to perform in [[People's Republic of China|China]]—in front of an estimated 600 million television viewers{{clarify|date=July 2015}}<!--When? In what year?-->; she also released an album in China in 1992.<ref name="esctv"/> In 1992 and 1993, Rival International, released Carola's earlier albums on CD. She was originally signed to Mariann Records in Scandinavia.{{clarify|date=July 2015}}<!--Shouldn't this last piece of information be given earlier in the article? If she was not signed to Mariann Records in 1992 or afterwards, this doesn't really belong in this section.--> In 1993, ten years after her breakthrough representing Sweden at the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest, she recorded a [[gospel music|gospel]] album, ''My Tribute'', which was released in sixteen countries, making her gospel artist of the year in the Netherlands in 1994.<ref name="carolaint"/> The album contains the hit-single "My Tribute", one of Häggkvist's best-known songs. In 1994, Häggkvist released a rock-themed album, '"Personligt" (Personally), marking her debut as a songwriter and selling gold.<ref name="gylleneskorbio"/> "Så länge jag lever", "Sanna Vänner" and "Guld i dina ögon" became hits and received a great amount of radio airplay. In 1995, Häggkvist made her debut as a musical actress, playing Maria in ''[[The Sound of Music]]'' opposite [[Tommy Körberg]] as the male lead. She played the role in 325 performances and won the prestigious ''Guldmasken'' (Golden Mask) award.<ref name="esctv"/> Three years later, she sang the theme song in the Norwegian musical ''Sophie's World'', which was released on the album ''Songs from Sophie's World''.<ref name="gylleneskorbio"/> Also in 1998, Häggkvist played the voice of Mirjam in the Swedish version of ''[[The Prince of Egypt]]''.<ref name="esctv"/> In 2002, she made a short appearance as [[Fantine]] in ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]'' in London and five Scandinavian cities.<ref name="gylleneskorbio"/> In November 1997, Häggkvist released another compilation album, ''De bästa av Carola'' ("The Best of Carola"), and with it several new singles like "Dreamer".<ref>Carola International. [http://www.carolainternational.com/history/1997.html 1993] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107074209/http://www.carolainternational.com/history/1997.html |date=7 November 2007 }} and ''Just the way you are'', which topped the charts for several weeks. Retrieved on 1 March 2008.</ref> Following this came an album of tracks penned by [[Lina Sandell]], ''Blott en dag'' ("Just One Day").<ref name="gylleneskorbio"/> The album received excellent reviews and revealed Carola's passion for hymns. In 1999, another Christmas album was released: ''Jul i Betlehem'' ("Christmas in Bethlehem"). The album sold 600,000 units throughout Scandinavia, including 350,000 in Sweden.<ref name="esctv"/> and became the biggest-selling album of 1999. She also co-wrote the ballad "Himlen i min famn", which remains a popular Christmas song that is often performed at Christmas concerts. In the summer of 1999, she toured in the ''Rhapsody in Rock''. In 2001, she released ''Sov på min arm'', an album based on Christian hymns, gospel melodies and intimate ballads. It became one of the most-sold albums in Scandinavia that year. In 2002, she release the pop/country album ''My Show'', which received great reviews. The album, which marked Häggkvist's return to the pop scene, contained several hits such as "The Light", "I believe in love", which also topped the Estonian and Brazilian charts, and "A Kiss Goodbye". Even though the album only peaked at number&nbsp;6 on the Swedish album chart, it sold 100,000 copies by the end of the year. In the summer, Häggkvist embarked on a huge and luxurious Scandinavian tour. In 2003, Häggkvist submitted a song, "Autumn Leaf", for [[Melodifestivalen 2003]]. Having performed the demo, she was required to perform the song when it qualified for the competition. Häggkvist decided against doing that, and the song was disqualified from the competition.<ref>Sietse Bakker (17 December 2002). [http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/1055 Carola's Autumn Leaf exits]. ESCtoday.com. Retrieved on 18 March 2008. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014636/http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/1055 |date=30 September 2007 }}</ref> "Autumn Leaf" appeared on Häggkvist's next album, ''[[Guld, platina & passion]]'', in Swedish as "[[När löven faller]]" (When the leaves fall). The ballad became an enormous hit. ''Guld, platina & passion'' reached number&nbsp;1 on the Swedish charts and sold over 300,000 copies. She also recorded her favorite Elvis Presley songs, "Walk a mile in my shoes" and "If I can dream". The following year, Häggkvist released a religious album, ''[[Credo (Carola album)|Credo]]'', which she described as "an expression of my love for God".<ref>Lisa Jannerling (27 July 2005). [http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesliv/article302647.ab Gud fick mig att kasta blomman] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304043759/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesliv/article302647.ab |date=4 March 2008 }}. Aftonbladet.se. Retrieved on 18 March 2008.</ref> The album peaked at spot&nbsp;2 on the Swedish album chart. This was followed by ''[[Störst av allt (album)|Störst av allt]]'', which Dan Backman of ''[[Svenska Dagbladet]]'' wrote featured "spiritually aimed music…revolving around belonging, love, death and eternity".<ref>Dan Backman (13 May 2005). [http://www.svd.se/kulturnoje/musik/artikel_30903.svd Störst av allt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522120105/https://www.svd.se/carola-2iRg |date=22 May 2021 }}. SvD.se. Retrieved on 18 March 2008.</ref> ''Genom Allt'' became a huge radio hit in Sweden and the soul ballad "Allt kommer bli bra mamma", a dedication to her deceased mother, became popular at religious events. === 2005–present: Return to Eurovision === [[File:Carola Häggkvist.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Carola in 2006]] Having performed as part of the interval act at [[Melodifestivalen 2005]],<ref>[http://www.st.nu/noje/melodifestivalen.php?action=visa_artikel&id=454291 Martin showade hem segern] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818134418/http://www.st.nu/noje/melodifestivalen.php?action=visa_artikel&id=454291 |date=18 August 2006 }}. ''[[Sundsvalls Tidning]]'' (13 May 2005). Retrieved on 18 March 2008.</ref> Häggkvist confirmed that she would return to the competition in 2006. She performed "Evighet" ("Eternity"), written by [[Bobby Ljunggren]], [[Henrik Wikström]] and [[Thomas G:son]], which she described as a "true winning song". The song qualified from{{clarify|date=July 2015}} the semi-final in Gothenburg on 11 March 2006,<ref>[http://www.svd.se/kulturnoje/nyheter/artikel_298486.svd Carola och Kjellman till Globen]. SvD.se. Retrieved on 18 March 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226094420/http://www.svd.se/kulturnoje/nyheter/artikel_298486.svd |date=26 February 2008 }}</ref> and was widely tipped to win the festival outright as the final at the [[Stockholm Globe Arena]] approached.<ref>Sietse Bakker (18 March 2006). [http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/5802 Carola will not sing in dress rehearsal]. ESCtoday.com. Retrieved on 18 March 2008. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061125165844/http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/5802 |date=25 November 2006 }}</ref> Despite finishing second with the regional juries to [[Andreas Johnson]], "Evighet" won the competition with 232 points.<ref>Peter Tai Christiansen (18 March 2006). [http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=47345&a=559248 Carola härifrån till evigheten – och Aten]. SVT.se. Retrieved on 18 March 2008. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612231953/http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=47345&a=559248 |date=12 June 2011 }}</ref> Prior to the contest, Carola visited 12 countries where she promoted her song. "[[Invincible (Carola Häggkvist song)|Invincible]]" received a large amount of air play on the radios in these countries. The song qualified from the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens, in English as "[[Invincible (Carola Häggkvist song)|Invincible]]". Häggkvist in the end finished fifth out of twenty-four with 170 points.<ref>[[BBC News]] (21 May 2006). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4998186.stm Finnish monsters rock Eurovision] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309122852/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4998186.stm |date=9 March 2008 }}. Retrieved on 19 March 2008.</ref> This placing also made her the second-most successful artist in the history of Eurovision, counting by total points earned in her performances, with her three songs scoring a total of 442 points, behind only [[Dima Bilan]], the 2006 runner-up and 2008 winner. Following Melodifestivalen, Häggkvist released a pop album, ''[[Från nu till evighet]]'' ("From Now to Eternity"). Lennart Wrigholm reviewed the album for ''Musiklandet''; he criticised the amount of new material on the album: "Has this old lady really got such a workload that she cannot put more than ten new tracks on her album?" and wrote that the inclusion of the English version of "Evighet" as a bonus track was "an insult to the potential buyer".<ref>Lennart Wrigholm (11 June 2006). [http://www.musiklandet.se/ml/index.nsf/1?Open&a=sk&id=799932087BDA3EEDC125717D00468CBD Från Nu Till Evighet: Mycket Väsen För Lite Ull.....] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813132746/http://www.musiklandet.se/ml/index.nsf/1?Open&a=sk&id=799932087BDA3EEDC125717D00468CBD |date=13 August 2007 }}. Retrieved on 19 March 2008.</ref> On the other hand, ''[[Expressen]]''{{'}}s Anders Nunstedt wrote that on "Jag ger allt" ("I Give It All") "the title does not lie" and that "Vem kan älska mig" ("Who Can Love Me") features a "brilliant refrain".<ref>Anders Nunstedt (27 April 2006). [https://archive.today/20120729164057/http://www.expressen.se/1.347717 Anders Nunstedt betygsätter "Från nu till evighet" – låt för låt]. Expressen.se. Retrieved on 19 March 2008.</ref> The album topped the Swedish sales chart, and sold approximately 100,000 copies by the end of the year. ''Stanna eller gå'', a Latin-inspired pop song, became a radio hit during the summer. Following the album's release, Häggkvist toured Sweden and received outstanding reviews.<ref>Alexander Borodin (13 June 2006). [http://www.gylleneskor.se/artikel/det-haer-aer-carolas-stora-sommarturne Det här är Carolas stora sommarturné]. Gylleneskor.se. Retrieved on 19 March 2008. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043709/http://www.gylleneskor.se/artikel/det-haer-aer-carolas-stora-sommarturne |date=4 March 2016 }}</ref> During the autumn, Häggkvist had problems with her voice but nonetheless sang "[[Because We Believe]]", a song written by [[Andrea Bocelli]], with the Italian [[tenor]]. In late 2007, Häggkvist released another Christmas album, ''I denna natt blir världen ny'' ("There is a New World This Night"), a sequel to ''Jul i Betlehem''. The album featured songs in Swedish and English, and was recorded in Jerusalem in June 2007.<ref>Leif Råberg (12 November 2007). [http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/9607 Carola releases new Christmas album]. ESCtoday.com. Retrieved on 19 March 2008. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318174054/http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/9607 |date=18 March 2008 }}</ref> Stefan Malmqvist of ''[[Svenska Dagbladet]]'' wrote that, as in previous Christmas albums, Häggkvist is "a saccharine version of herself" when singing [[Christmas carol]]s.<ref>Stefan Malmqvist (14 November 2007). [http://www.svd.se/kulturnoje/musik/artikel_593563.svd I denna natt blev världen ny – Jul i Betlehem II] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211133619/http://www.svd.se/kulturnoje/musik/artikel_593563.svd |date=11 December 2007 }}. SvD.se. Retrieved on 19 March 2008.</ref> The album was reported to have sold 90,000 copies. Included on the album was the gospel song ''[[Go Tell It on the Mountain (song)|Go and Tell It on the Mountain]]''. After the release she toured Scandinavia. Carola entered [[Melodifestivalen 2008]] as part of the duo ''Johnson & Häggkvist'' with [[Andreas Johnson]]. Their first single was called "Lucky Star" which became popular on the radio. In the melodifestival in February, they sang "[[One Love (Johnson & Häggkvist song)|One Love]]", written by Carola, Johnson and Peter Kvint.<ref>ESCtoday.com (15 January 2008). [http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10130 Carola & Andreas unite]. Retrieved on 16 January 2008. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116080440/http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10130 |date=16 January 2008 }}</ref> They were the early favourites to win the whole show, taking part in the second qualifier. They qualified for the Second Chance round, missing out on an automatic final spot. Though widely tipped to qualify for the final after all, they did not even proceed from the first voting round in the Second Chance programme. Although ''One Love'' did not become an enormous success, the song ''Lucky Star'' which they released a few months prior to the contest did sell well, and topped the Swedish charts for weeks. Carola decided to take it easy the rest of the year, but did embark on a small Christmas tour at the end of the year. In 2009, Carola was reportedly working on her upcoming album, and other projects. She went to the United States to record some new material. She departed from her recording company and signed a contract with [[X5 Music Group]], in which she aims to transfer her music abroad through the internet. In June, she hosted ''Carola Camp'', a camp designed to help talented young singers and entertainers. In May, she performed at the Eurovision Song Contest held in Moscow at the kick-off ceremony, performing her 3 Eurovision songs. In July, she performed, together with the Eurovision winner [[Alexander Rybak]] in Norway and sang "[[Fairytale (Alexander Rybak song)|Fairytale]]" and "Främling" and The Jackson&nbsp;5's "[[I'll Be There (The Jackson 5 song)|I'll Be There]]". At the end of 2009, she released the album ''[[Christmas in Bethlehem]]'', which contained duets with artists like Paul Potts. She embarked on yet another Christmas tour, visiting Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. She also launched her new website. Carola attended in the final of the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2013]] in [[Malmö]] and performed in a humorous interval act about Swedish culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.svt.se/melodifestivalen/sa-ska-carola-driva-med-sverige-i-finalen-av-eurovision-song-contest-2013|title=Här blåser Carola av scenen i Eurovision|work=svt.se|access-date=22 November 2014|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129090129/http://www.svt.se/melodifestivalen/sa-ska-carola-driva-med-sverige-i-finalen-av-eurovision-song-contest-2013|url-status=live}}</ref> In the summer of 2010, Carola embarked on tour across Sweden, singing the hits of both Elvis Presley and Barbra Streisand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expressen.se/noje/musik/carola-haggkvist-satsar-pa-krogshow/|title=Carola Häggkvist satsar på krogshow|work=Expressen|access-date=6 December 2014|archive-date=13 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213102330/http://www.expressen.se/noje/musik/carola-haggkvist-satsar-pa-krogshow/|url-status=live}}</ref> The influence came from Carola's childhood, where her father and her mother would play records by both their favourite artists. The tour was an instant success, selling out and becoming one of the few tours to sell out that year. She took time out from the tour to appear on [[Allsång på Skansen]], and in March 2011 she released a studio album, containing twelve songs. In 2014 Häggkvist participated in ''[[Så mycket bättre]]'' on [[TV4 (Sweden)|TV4]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/tv/samycketbattre/article19903350.ab|title=Orup tokhyllas för "Främling" i Så mycket bättre|work=Aftonbladet|access-date=22 November 2014|archive-date=24 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141124224011/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/tv/samycketbattre/article19903350.ab|url-status=live}}</ref> Carola attended the final of the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2016]] in Stockholm and was briefly interviewed on screen along with another previous Swedish winner [[Loreen (singer)|Loreen]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/melodifestivalen/article22819414.ab |title=Här dissar Måns Carola – i direktsändning &#124; Melodifestivalen &#124; Nöjesbladet &#124; Aftonbladet |publisher=Aftonbladet.se |date=14 May 2016 |access-date=15 May 2016 |archive-date=22 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522120040/https://salesposter.aftonbladet.se/getSalesPoster/41MB9q?initialWidth=648&childId=pymComponent0&parentTitle=H%C3%A4r%20dissar%20M%C3%A5ns%20Carola%20%E2%80%93%20i%20direkts%C3%A4ndning%20%7C%20Aftonbladet&parentUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aftonbladet.se%2Fnojesbladet%2Fa%2FWLxkyK%2Fhar-dissar-mans-carola--i-direktsandning |url-status=live }}</ref> In late-October 2016, she released her new Christmas album titled ''[[Drömmen om julen]]''. The release was followed by a tour. In April 2021, it was announced that Carola would be the spokesperson for [[Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021|Sweden]] at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2021]], reading out the Swedish jury points at the Grand Final.<ref name=":7">{{cite web|last=|first=|title=Edward af Sillén och Christer Björkman kommenterar Eurovision|url=https://media.melodifestivalen.se/post/edward-af-sillen-och-christer-bjorkman-kommenterar-eurovision|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-22|website=media.melodifestivalen.se|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422120513/https://media.melodifestivalen.se/post/edward-af-sillen-och-christer-bjorkman-kommenterar-eurovision}}</ref> ==Personal life and media attention== Her status as one of the most popular national celebrities of her country made her more or less constantly followed by the tabloid press. She has often talked about her Christian faith and much of the focus has been around her membership in the controversial evangelical church ''[[Livets Ord]]'' (Word of Life). She was married to [[Runar Søgaard]], a Norwegian Christian preacher, with whom she has a son, Amadeus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expressen.se/noje/carola-sag-sin-mamma-do/|title=Carola såg sin mamma dö|work=Expressen|access-date=6 December 2014|archive-date=13 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213102333/http://www.expressen.se/noje/carola-sag-sin-mamma-do/|url-status=live}}</ref> The couple divorced in 2000, after ten years of marriage.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} She adopted a daughter, Zoe, from [[South Africa]], in 2012. (Her parents had both died in 2004.){{citation needed|date=November 2020}} ===Controversy regarding opinions on homosexuality=== In an interview in 2002 for the Swedish gay magazine ''[[QX (magazine)|QX]]'', she alienated many gays and some heterosexual fans by alleging that she knew homosexual people who had become heterosexual through prayers. She also said that homosexuality would always remain "unnatural" to her.<ref>[http://www.qx.se/info/senaste_numret.php?id=20 QX.se – Info<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204144223/http://www.qx.se/info/senaste_numret.php?id=20 |date=4 February 2005 }}</ref> Four years later, her comment was brought up when she participated in the Swedish national selection for the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] in March 2006. During a press conference a journalist tried to ask her about her opinions on homosexuality, but she did not answer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesliv/article359958.ab|title=Flydde från Gayfrågor|work=Aftonbladet|access-date=22 November 2014|archive-date=24 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624073308/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesliv/article359958.ab|url-status=live}}</ref> On 15 March 2006 [[Rickard Engfors]], who was Carola's cooperating partner during the [[Melodifestivalen]] and [[Eurovision Song Contest 2006]], said "Carola doesn't hate gays. If she did, I wouldn't work for her. She is a fantastic person."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expressen.se/noje/melodifestivalen/carola-ar-feg-och-falsk/|title="Carola är feg och falsk" – ''Expressen'' 15 March 2006|work=Expressen|access-date=22 November 2014|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129052356/http://www.expressen.se/noje/melodifestivalen/carola-ar-feg-och-falsk/|url-status=live}}</ref> During an exclusive interview for one of the Eurovision-related websites before the 2006 contest, Carola was also questioned about this, and she stated that she "would love for every gay person to feel that she loves them" and that she does not think that "being gay is a sickness". She went on to criticize the [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]]s for misinterpreting her original words and making an issue out of it. Later in the interview, she also commented on one of her supporting dancers being gay and his boyfriend being "great".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061125164051/http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/6096 Eurovision Song Contest Serbia 2008 | News – Exclusive: Carola (Sweden) speaks out!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 2008, she spoke to the newspaper ''[[Aftonbladet]]'' and again revisited her opinions about homosexuality, which she insisted have evolved over the past two decades and are very inclusive. She said, "I actually invited gays from ''QX'' to my 25-year anniversary [concert], but ''QX'' turned it down. What can I do? I love all people. I love the gays. So I am definitely not homophobic in any way. We are here for the music and I have no wacky opinions. And I feel love from many homosexuals too."<ref name="karlek">{{cite web|url=https://www.rfsl.se/?p=3815&aid=11000 |title=Carola: Jag alskar de homosexuella |access-date=22 November 2014 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030113812/http://www.rfsl.se/?p=3815&aid=11000 |archive-date=30 October 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref> In 2014, participating in the tv show Så Mycket Bättre, she revealed that she had a romance with a woman in the 80's. She said "I remember when I hung out with a girl actually in the 80's. We were definitely not a couple, but I tested. It was a bit hard because I felt an extreme attraction and a force in that, but I chose not to go further". In the 2019 edition of Så Mycket Bättre, she was asked about possibly having a relation with a woman in the future, and she said that it is a possibility. == Discography == {{main|Carola Häggkvist discography}} {{div col}} *''[[Främling]]'' (1983) *''[[Steg för steg]]'' (1984) *''[[På egna ben]]'' (1984) *''[[Runaway (Carola Häggkvist album)|Runaway]]'' (1986) *''[[Much More (album)|Much More]]'' (1990) *''[[Jul (Carola Søgaard album)|Jul]]'' (1991) *''My Tribute'' (1993) *''Personligt'' (1994) *''[[Blott en dag (album)|Blott en dag]]'' (1998) *''[[Jul i Betlehem]]'' (1999) *''[[Sov på min arm]] (2001) *''[[My Show]]'' (2001) *''[[Guld, platina & passion]]'' (2003) *''[[Credo (Carola album)|Credo]]'' (2004) *''[[Störst av allt (album)|Störst av allt]]'' (2005) *''[[Från nu till evighet]]'' (2006) *''[[I denna natt blir världen ny – Jul i Betlehem II]]'' (2007) *''[[Christmas in Bethlehem]]'' (2009) *''[[Elvis, Barbra & jag]]'' (2011) *''[[Drömmen om julen]]'' (2016) {{div col end}} == Dubbing == {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Notes |- |1998 |''[[The Prince of Egypt]]'' |Miriam |Swedish voice-dub |} == References == {{reflist|30em}} == External links == {{commons category|Carola Häggkvist}} *{{Official website|http://www.carola.com/}} {{s-start}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | before= {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Toto Cutugno]]<br>with "[[Insieme: 1992]]" | title=[[List of Eurovision Song Contest winners|Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest]] | years=[[Eurovision Song Contest 1991|1991]] | after= {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Linda Martin]]<br>with "[[Why Me? (Linda Martin song)|Why Me?]] }} {{succession box | before=[[Chips (band)|Chips]]<br>with "[[Dag efter dag]]" | title=[[Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest]] | years=[[Eurovision Song Contest 1983|1983]] | after=[[Herreys]]<br>with "[[Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley]]" }} {{succession box | before=[[Edin-Ådahl]]<br>with "[[Som en vind]]" | title=[[Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest]] | years=[[Eurovision Song Contest 1991|1991]] | after=[[Christer Björkman]]<br>{{nowrap|with "[[I morgon är en annan dag]]"}} }} {{succession box | before=[[Martin Stenmarck]]<br>with "[[Las Vegas (Martin Stenmarck song)|Las Vegas]]" | title=[[Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest]] | years=[[Eurovision Song Contest 2006|2006]] | after=[[The Ark (Swedish band)|The Ark]]<br>with "[[The Worrying Kind]]" }} {{succession box | before= {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Lecia Jønsson]] | title= [[OGAE Second Chance Contest]] winner | years= [[OGAE Second Chance Contest 1990|1990]] | after= {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Pernilla Wahlgren]] }} {{s-end}} {{Carola Häggkvist}} {{List of Eurovision Song Contest winners}} {{Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=collapsed}} {{Eurovision Song Contest 1983|state=collapsed}} {{Eurovision Song Contest 1991|state=collapsed}} {{Eurovision Song Contest 2006|state=collapsed}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Haggkvist, Carola}} [[Category:1966 births]] [[Category:20th-century Swedish women singers]] [[Category:21st-century Swedish women singers]] [[Category:English-language singers from Sweden]] [[Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1983]] [[Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1991]] [[Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2006]] [[Category:Eurovision Song Contest winners]] [[Category:Litteris et Artibus recipients]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Melodifestivalen winners]] [[Category:Schlager musicians]] [[Category:Singers from Stockholm]] [[Category:Swedish Christians]] [[Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants for Sweden]] [[Category:Swedish gospel singers]] [[Category:Swedish voice actresses]]'