In the Grammis jury's motivation, it says: "Few, if anyone, in Swedish popular music has challenged her to have one of Sweden's best singing voices over all these years."
Carola herself had given up the idea of ever receiving a Grammis. She believes she may have been a bit too folk-like and too involved in Melodifestivalen.
But I've managed well and established myself anyway. Now they've finally placed me, so Hedersgrammis – I thank them for that. And I want to share it with my wonderful audience and the Swedish people.
Releasing new music
Carola is most proud of having followed her heart and never letting her song fade away. In an industry that can be square, she has tried to be creative.
Nothing is impossible is my attitude, and that's a big key for me. That I've embraced my music styles.
She did so, not least during the grand celebration of her 40-year anniversary in 2023, with "Carola 4 faces". She's still catching her breath. At the same time, she has had a success in Norway, in the Norwegian equivalent of "Så mycket bättre", "Hver gang vi møtes".
This spring, she's also releasing an Easter album, with 15 new songs about Mary Magdalene's love for Jesus. In the midst of it all, she's writing a book about her life.
I'm turning up the heat with the years, says Carola.
Demanding everything
She's happy that the jury praises her singing voice, but actually doesn't think she sings that well. It was her sister who once registered her for a talent competition, she herself wanted to become an actress.
Over the years, she feels that she has found "a frequency in her tone" that reaches in.
It's important for me to find the direction in the tone and energy. Then I feel "now it's for real", then I'm satisfied – when you feel that you touch. But it demands everything from me.
Carola got her breakthrough with "Främling" in 1983. She has, among other things, won the Eurovision Song Contest 1991 with "Fångad av en stormvind", released best-selling albums like "Jul i Betlehem", and has a long list of hits, such as "Evighet", "Säg mig var du står" and "Genom allt". During the anniversary tour "Carola 4 faces" in 2023, she presented her music worlds in 30 different concerts.
