Tuesday, June 16, 2026- Görel Hanser, ABBA’s longtime manager and widely regarded as the group’s unofficial “fifth member,” has died at the age of 76.
The Swedish music executive was confirmed dead by ABBA themselves, who paid tribute to her as their “most loved friend and closest colleague,” highlighting her decades-long role at the heart of their global success.
Hanser began her career in the late 1960s working with ABBA’s original manager Stig Anderson before rising to become a central figure at Polar Music.
Over the years, she handled everything from logistics and media relations to international coordination during ABBA’s peak in the 1970s and 1980s, later continuing to oversee ABBA-related business projects even after the group’s active years.
Her death has triggered an outpouring of tributes from across the music world, with fans and industry figures acknowledging her behind-the-scenes influence on one of pop music’s most successful acts.
As ABBA’s members mourn the loss privately, Hanser’s legacy is being remembered as a defining force in the group’s enduring global impact and cultural staying power.
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