You’re staring at the grid. 57-Down. Five letters. The clue just says "Andersson of ABBA NYT style." If you’ve spent any time with the New York Times crossword, you already know the answer is BENNY.
But honestly? Reducing Benny Andersson to a five-letter crossword answer is kinda like calling the Pacific Ocean a "puddle." As we move through 2026, the man isn’t just a relic of 1970s disco-pop. He’s currently the architect of a massive, multi-billion dollar entertainment ecosystem that is effectively rewriting how legacy acts exist in the 21st century.
The Crossword Staple and the Modern Mogul
The New York Times has a long-standing love affair with ABBA. Whether it's a "Tuesday Easy" or a "Saturday Stumper," the name Andersson pops up constantly. Usually, it's Benny. Sometimes it's a clever nod to his son, Ludvig, who has taken over the family business of high-tech nostalgia.
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Why does the NYT care so much? Because Benny Andersson represents a rare bridge between high-brow composition and "Dancing Queen" energy. He’s the guy who can write a folk opera about Swedish immigrants (Kristina från Duvemåla) and then turn around and fund a permanent avatar-driven stadium in London.
What the NYT Clues Miss
Most people forget that Benny didn't start with ABBA. He was the "Swedish Paul McCartney" in a band called the Hep Stars. He was a rockstar before he was a pop star. When you type those five letters into your puzzle app, you're referencing a guy who has been professionally famous for over 60 years.
The 2026 Broadway Takeover: Chess and Mamma Mia!
If you’re in New York right now, you’ve probably noticed the posters. It’s a weirdly specific moment for Benny and his creative partner, Björn Ulvaeus. For the first time in decades, two of their massive stage works are running concurrently on Broadway.
- Chess: The 2025-2026 revival is a certified hit. With a fresh book by Danny Strong, it finally fixed the "narrative issues" that plagued the original 80s run.
- Mamma Mia!: The limited engagement at the Winter Garden Theatre—the show's original home—is currently sold out through February 1, 2026.
It’s a "Benny-ssance." Younger audiences who found ABBA through TikTok trends are now paying $300 a seat to hear the synth-heavy orchestrations of Chess. It’s not just about the hits; it’s about the sheer technical complexity of the music. Benny has always been a "musician's musician" disguised as a pop songwriter.
ABBA Voyage: The £1 Billion Elephant in the Room
You can't talk about Andersson of ABBA NYT coverage without mentioning the London residency. ABBA Voyage is currently booked through July 2026 at the purpose-built arena in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Think about that. A band that hasn't toured in person since 1980 is currently out-earning almost every live act on the planet.
The Tech and the Talent
Benny’s son, Ludvig Andersson, produced the show, but Benny’s fingerprints are all over the audio. They didn't just play the old tapes. Benny spent months in his Stockholm studio, RMV Studios, re-recording parts and supervising the 10-piece live band that plays alongside the "Abba-tars."
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Recently, they’ve even started rotating the setlist. In mid-2025, they added "The Name of the Game" and "Take a Chance on Me," proving that the digital assets are flexible. Benny told the press it was "flattering" to see how people reacted to the new music from the Voyage album, like "I Still Have Faith in You."
The Classical Turn: From Pop to Bach
In late 2025, Benny took a hard left turn that surprised even the die-hard fans. He collaborated with world-renowned clarinetist Martin Fröst to record a classical piece by Johann Sebastian Bach.
He's 79 now. Most people his age are tending gardens. Benny is in the studio debating the nuances of Baroque counterpoint. It’s this range—from "Waterloo" to Bach—that makes him such a recurring figure in intellectual circles like the NYT readership.
Why We Still Care About Benny Andersson
There’s a specific kind of "Swedish Melancholy" in Benny’s writing. It’s that feeling of being happy and sad at the same time. You hear it in "The Winner Takes It All." You hear it in the Chess score.
He’s also been incredibly open about his personal life lately. He’s been sober since 2001 and often speaks about the "demons" of his early fame. That vulnerability makes him more than just a hit-maker; he’s a human being who survived the meat-grinder of the 70s music industry and came out the other side with his integrity intact.
Misconceptions vs. Reality
- Misconception: Benny is "just the piano guy."
- Reality: He is an executive producer on nearly every major ABBA-related project, including the Mamma Mia! films.
- Misconception: ABBA only exists as avatars now.
- Reality: All four members still meet. They were seen together in Stockholm in late 2024 receiving the Royal Order of Vasa from the King of Sweden.
Practical Insights for Fans and Travelers
If you’re looking to experience the "Andersson effect" in person, here is how the landscape looks for the rest of 2026:
- London is the Hub: The ABBA Voyage arena is the only place to see the show. Don't fall for "touring" rumors; the building itself is part of the instrument.
- Broadway Closing Dates: If you want to see the Mamma Mia! revival, you have until the first week of February. Chess is likely to extend its run if ticket sales hold.
- The Stockholm Pilgrimage: Visit Skeppsholmen. You can’t go inside Benny’s RMV Studios (it’s a working facility), but the island itself is where the modern ABBA sound is crafted.
Benny Andersson has managed to do the impossible: he turned nostalgia into a forward-looking technology. He’s not just a name in a crossword. He’s a living blueprint for how to age with grace, creativity, and a really, really good ear for melody.