These photos were taken at the Swedish Song Contest Party at City Hall in Stockholm on Thursday night, March 16.

Today, the album "Melodifestivalen 2006" is released in Sweden. The 2xCD album includes all 32 songs from this year's Swedish Song Contest. For the last few years, the albums with the songs from the contest, have all become huge successes, and it is very likely this album will enter the Swedish sales charts at no 1 next week. Link: Buy the album

Today, the artists competing in the Swedish Song Contest Finale in the Globe Arena in Stockholm on Saturday, had a press conference.

Carola got the most attention from media, and was gorgeous in an off-white short dress with a big guitar on it.

Video: Pressconference (Aftonbladet)

Carola's upcoming album will be titled "Från nu till evighet".

The album still hasn't got an official release date, but Carola mentioned in a radio interview that it will be released in May (Ginza.se has it listed for an April 26 release).

As earlier reported Carola collaborates with Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren, Stefan Almqvist, and Pelle Ankarberg for the album.

Carola is simultaniously working on an album in English which will include some old and some new songs.

A gorgeous photo of Carola is gracing the cover of the current issue of Com Hem Magasinet. The magazine is not available in stores, just for the Com Hem customers. But you can read the article online, just click the link below. Thanks to Helena for the information Link: The magazine's website

SVT.se has a poll on their site for the Swedish Song Contest. The question is "Who is your favorite in the Finale?" This is how people have answered so far (with 2.795 votes cast on March 16, 2.30am):

Carola: 30%
BWO: 19%
Linda Bengtzing: 12%
Andreas Johnson: 11%
The Poodles: 9%
Rednex: 8%
Magnus Bäcklund: 4%
Magnus Carlsson: 3%
Björn Kjellman: 3%
Kikki Danielsson: 1%

Information from SVT.se
Chart made by Carola International

Link: Vote for Carola

Carola is on the cover of the current issue (7/06) of the magazine Amelia. Link: The magazine's website

Since the betting firm Ladbrokers stopped the bidding for Carola as the winner of the Swedish Song Contest 2006, you need to turn to Svenska Spel if you want to bid money on her victory.

But even Svenska Spel has Carola as a clear favorite for the victory:

Carola "Evighet" - 1.10
BWO "Temple of Love" - 5.00
Andreas Johnson "Sing For Me" - 10.00
Rednex "Mama Take Me Home" - 15.00
The Poodles "Night of Passion" - 20.00
Björn Kjellman "Älskar du livet" - 30.00
Linda Bengtzing "Jag ljuger så bra" - 50.00
Magnus Bäcklund "The Name of Love" - 60.00
Magnus Carlsson "Lev livet" - 75.00
Kikki Danielsson "Idag och imorgon" - 100.00

Link: Svenska Spel's website

The single "Evighet" is released in Sweden today, March 15. Tracklisting: 01. Evighet 02. Evighet (instrumental) The song is a favorite to win the Swedish Song Contest on Saturday, and as a download it already tops the charts on iTunes and CDON.se. Audio: Listen to "Evighet" Link: Buy the single from CDON Link: Carola International's Shop Link: Carola International's Discography

According to Carola.com, "Evighet" will be released in Norway on Monday, March 20.

Last week the betting firm Ladbrokers changed Carola's odds for winning the Swedish Song Contest to amazing 1.01, but yesterday they gave up completely.

Ladbrokers are so convinced that Carola will win that they don't allow you to bet on her victory anymore, as a way of not losing to much money.

These are the odds for who is coming on 2nd place:

BWO "Temple of Love" - 2.25
Andreas Johnson "Sing For Me" - 3.50
Linda Bengtzing "Jag ljuger så bra" - 8.00
The Poodles "Night of Passion" - 9.00
Björn Kjellman "Älskar du livet" - 17.00
Magnus Bäcklund "The Name of Love" - 17.00
Rednex "Mama Take Me Home" - 17.00
Magnus Carlsson "Lev livet" - 26.00
Kikki Danielsson "Idag och imorgon" - 34.00

Link: Ladbrokers website

The new single "Evighet" has been released as a download, and is already hitting the charts. On CDON.se, "Evighet" is no 1. The cd single is released tomorrow, March 15. Link: CDON's download chart

In an article in Dagens Industri today, Carola's businesses are analyzed. Under the umbrella of Carola Musikproduktion AB, there are four other companies that together had business for 5.6 million sek last year. The profit was 1.6 million sek.

• CAROLA MUSIKPRODUKTION AB
• Camp Carola (Education for artists)
• Carola Care (Charity)
• In Your Dreams Production
• Jul i Betlehem

Link: Read the article

This is the running order of the finale of the Swedish Song Contest 2006 that takes place on Saturday March 18, 8.00pm

1. Andreas Johnson - Sing For Me
2. Björn Kjellman - Älskar du livet
3. Linda Bengtzing - Jag ljuger så bra
4. The Poodles - Night of Passion
5. Magnus Carlsson - Lev livet
6. Rednex - Mama Take Me Home
7. Carola - Evighet
8. Magnus Bäcklund - The Name of Love
9. Kikki Danielsson - Idag och imorgon
10. Bodies Without Organs - Temple of Love

Link: All about the finale

As Carola International announced on March 4, Carola will give a concert in Karlskrona in July, during her Summer tour in Sweden. Now the date is official: July 15.
These are the only concerts announced for the tour:

July 1 - Skellefteå
July 15 - Karlskrona

Many more tourdates to come. Visit back for more information.

These are some photos of Carola performing and celebrating in Scandinavium in Gothenburg yesterday, March 11.

This photo shows Carola and her team celebrate her victory in the fourth semi final of the Swedish Song Contest in Gothenburg yesterday.

Photo: Aftonbladet

Video: SVT-interview after the victory
Video: Carola and Björn Kjellman interview part 3
Video: Aftonbladet Nöjessvepet - Saturday
Video: Aftonbladet Nöjessvepet - Friday
Video: Aftonbladet Nöjessvepet - Thursday