Carola's tour has started with a concert in Haparanda last night. According to the Swedish newspaper Expressen Carola had a "wild" show where she walked out through the audience on the back of the chairs.

No reviews have been published so far...

Carola songs have recently been included on a number of newly released compilation CD's.

December 13 2006, the double-CD "Böndernas bästa kärlekslåtar" was released in Sweden. One of the songs on the album is Carola's 2003 hit "När löven faller". The album just fell out from the Swedish album chart for compilations after spending five weeks on the chart.

The compilation CD "30-årsskivan" was released in Sweden on January 24. Carola's "Tommy tycker om mig" from 1984 is included among the 15 hit songs, all taken from the 1980's and 1990's.

On February 14 "Absolute Schlager" will be released in Sweden. The the double-CD includes three songs with Carola; "Evighet" (2006), "Fångad av en stormvind" (1991) and "Främling" (1983).

Link: Buy the album 'Böndernas bästa kärlekslåtar'
Link: Buy the album '30-årsskivan'
Link: Buy the album 'Absolute Schlager'

Carola's first concert of the tour has now started in Haparanda. The photo above shows Carola during rehearsals on the beautiful stage.

At the concert in Haparanda tonight (the first show of Carola's tour) Carola will premiere the new song "Starting All Over Again" written by Beatrice Eriksson (one of Carola's back up singers).

Carola will give a concert in Jerusalem, Israel in June. The concert is a part of the Swedish congregation Livets Ord's "Jubilee Tour" that takes place June 12-19.

Carola that will be recording her upcoming Christmas album in Israel this Summer will give a "modern outdoor concert" on June 13.

More information to follow...

Thanks to Mikael Fridell for the info

Yesterday. January 30, Carola received the Litteris et Artibus medal from the Royal Highness the King of Sweden at a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.

Carola had her family waiting for her outside the Royal Palace and later in the evening a party to celebrate the event was held.

Carola comments on the event:

"This is one of the greatest moments in my life. I am moved, proud and thankful..."

"He (the King) had a personal message for me, but that is something I want to keep to myself. I also spoke to the Queen, which was very nice"

"I will wear the medal until dawn, I think I will sleep with it on"

(Translations by Carola International)

On Monday January 22, Carola performed three songs in the intermission of the Belarus Song Contest in Minsk; "Invincible", "Never Walk Without You" ("När löven faller"), and "As Long As I Live" ("Så länge jag lever"). These photos were taken during Carola's performance.

The last two photos show the winner of the Belarus Song Contest Dimitri Koldun performing the winning song "Work Your Magic" and posing for photographers holding a copy of Carola's 2001 album "My Show".

Photos from esckaz.ueuo.com
Thanks to Peter Karlsson for the info

Video: Carola's performace at the Belarus Song Contest

On Tuesday January 30, Carola will receive the Litteris et Artibus medal from the Royal Highness the King of Sweden at a ceremony at the royal palace in Stockholm.

32 people will receive the medal at the ceremony, among them the soccer player Henrik Larsson and the author Henning Mankell.

The plans for an album with duets might be close to become reality. The other day Carola talked about recording a duet with Russian superstar Dima Bilan and now a duet with Serbian singer Zeljko Joksimovic has been confirmed.

Carola International first reported about this collaboration in May, but now Zeljko Joksimovic is confirming on his website that the recording will happen by the end of January. Originally the recording was scheduled for December 2006.

Thanks to Nikola for the information

These photos were taken in Minsk on Monday where Carola performed at the Belarus Song Contest, revealing yet another new hairdo.

Today the tickets for Visby are released (at 9.00 am). The tickets cost 375 Sek and are sold through Ticnet.se

CONCERTS 2007
3.2	Haparanda	Aspens hallen 8.00 pm	425 Sek ticnet.se	website PH: 0922-150 00
10.2	Ängelholm	EFS kyrkan 7.30 pm	310 Sek	website PH: 0431-821 30
11.2	Ängelholm	EFS kyrkan 4.00 pm	310 Sek	website PH: 0431-821 30
11.2	Ängelholm	EFS kyrkan 7.00 pm	310 Sek	website PH: 0431-821 30
23.2	Lycksele	Hotell Lappland 7.00 pm	595-1395 Sek	website PH: 0950-370 00
24.2	Lycksele	Hotell Lappland 7.00 pm	595-1395 Sek	website PH: 0950-370 00
16.3	Sundsvall	Hotell Södra berget 7.30 pm	370 Sek ticnet.se	website PH: 060-67 10 00
17.3	Sundsvall	Hotell Södra berget 7.00 pm	370 Sek ticnet.se	website PH: 060-67 10 00
14.4	Visby	Wisby Strand 8.30 pm	375 Sek ticnet.se	website PH: 0498-65 11 00
21.4	Piteå	Pite Havsbad N/A	1295 Sek	website PH: 0911-327 20

Carola's "Evighet" was the 8th most sold single in Sweden 2006. The album "Från nu till evighet" the 34th most sold album. Below is the list of ALL Carola's albums, singles, compilations and DVD's that sold well in Sweden last year.

MOST SOLD ALBUMS 2006
Position	Title
12	Andrea Bocelli - Amore Because We Believe	Buy
34	Från nu till evighet .	Buy

MOST SOLD SINGLES 2006
Position	Title
8	Evighet .	Buy

MOST SOLD COMPILATIONS 2006
Position	Title
1	Melodifestivalen 2006 Evighet	Buy
4	Absolute Christmas Nu tändas tusen juleljus	Buy
7	Hits for Kids 16 Jag ger allt	Buy
10	Eurovision Song Contest 2006 Invincible	Buy
16	Hits 2006 Evighet	Buy
36	Tro hopp & kärlek När löven faller	Buy
41	Hits for Kids 15 Evighet	Buy
46	Ljuva svenska jul Gläns över sjö och strand	Buy

MOST SOLD MUSIC DVD'S 2006
Position	Title
3	Melodifestivalen 2006 Evighet	Buy
6	Carola Karaoke .	Buy
32	Pop 2006 Karaoke Evighet	Buy
35	Eurovision Song Contest 2006 Invincible	Buy
38	Melodifestivalen 2005 Genom allt	Buy
59	Karaoke Schlager SM 2006 Evighet	Buy
80	Karaoke Svenska popminnen Främling	Buy
99	Jubileumsshowen .	Buy

In an interview with Swedish newspaper Expressen, Carola says that she is planning to record a duet with Russian superstar Dima Bilan.

Dima represented Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 and ended up at no 2. According to rumors he might also sing in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Dima is a huge star in Russia.

Carola and SVT confirms that Carola will be a part of the finale of the Swedish Song Contest (Melodifestivalen) on March 10. She will present the award to the winning artist and she might perform, discussions will take place soon.

Tonight Carola will perform THREE songs in the intermission of the Belarus Song Contest; "Invincible", "Så länge jag lever" and "När löven faller". She will sing in both English and Russian. Carola will wear a black outfit designed by Lars Wallin (who also designed her clothes for the Swedish and the Eurovision Song Contest last year).

During her trip to Minsk, Carola will meet with a minister from the government who has expressed wishes that Carola would give charity concerts in Belarus, and with representatives from a record label about an album in English.

In the Swedish newspaper Expressen, Carola talks about releasing an album in Europe with duets with various European artists.

To watch the Belarus Song Contest live tonight (starts 7.20 pm local time), click on the link below...

Web-TV: Belarus TV Live

Carola has been invited to Minsk to perform in the Belarus Song Contest tomorrow Monday. She will perform "Invincible" from the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in an intermission of the contest. According to one source that spoke to Swedish newspaper Expressen, the Belarus ESC fans love Carola and her song.

Link: Expressen's article

Carola was nominated for Most Popular Person in Stockholm 2006, but lost the title to the Swedish austronaut Christer Fuglesang who won with a huge margin after receiving 60% of the votes.

This is the results of the voting:

1. Christer Fuglesang 60%
2. Joel Eriksson / Mattias Bernhardsson 18%
3. Robert Gustafsson 4%
4. Anna Book 4%
5. Carola 3%
6. Johan Hammarström 2.5%
7. Markus Jonsson 2%
8. Peter Åsard 2%
9. Jonas Gardell 2%
10. Orup 1%
11. Derek Boateng 1%
12. Anette Norberg 0.5%

In March, Carola was voted the Most Popular Person in Stockholm by the reader's of "Stockholm City". Now it's time to vote for Most Popular Person in Stockholm of the whole year.

The nominees are:

1. Anna Book (January)
2. Anette Norberg (February)
3. Carola (March)
4. Joel Eriksson / Mattias Bernhardsson (April)
5. Jonas Gardell (May)
6. Derek Boateng (June)
7. Robert Gustavsson (July)
8. Johan Hammarström (August)
9. Peter Åsard (September)
10. Markus Jonsson (October)
11. Orup (November)
12. Christer Fuglesang (December)

To vote for Carola, send a sms with the text "City månad 3" to 72580 (from Sweden). The voting continues to January 15. Each vote costs 5 Skr + the regular sms fee.

Thanks to Leif Kananen for the info

The Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet conducts a survey among record labels every year to find out what artist is the most desirable to have on your label. People from 11 record labels choose five artists each (none from their own label). This year, Carola ended up at no 6 on the list.

1. Moneybrother
2. José González
3. In Flames
4. The Knife
5. Robyn
6. Carola, Jenny Wilson, Taxi Taxi, Taken by Trees, The Ark, Hellacopters
7. Lars Winnerbäck, Kent, Marit Bergman, Laleh, Thåström, Loney Dear, Eggstone
8. Lisa Miskovsky, Håkan Hellström,Veronica Maggio, Johnossi, Magnus Uggla, Nina Ramsby.
9. Timbuktu
10. The Concretes, Mando Diao, Niccokick, Peter LeMarc, Jens Lekman, Stenmarck, Mattias Alkberg, Odd Job, Teddybears, Elias and the Wizzkids, Asha Ali, Orup

Link: Read the article

The Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet has listed the most influential entertainers in Sweden in 2006. Yesterday they revealed Carola at no 1 and published a new interview. Carola talks about her voice ("At one point I was actually wondering if I would ever be able to sing again"), her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest with "Invincible" ("The song is ok, but it's not as good as 'Captured By A Lovestorm") and her plans for the new year ("2007 feels exciting. I can't even imagening taking it easy. I am more selective nowadays. I have plans to go to Israel, write more pop songs and record my Christmas album").

1. Carola
2. Christine Meltzer
3. Lena Philipsson
4. Andreas Vestesson
5. Filip & Fredrik
6. Anna Book
7. Martin Stenmarck
8. Ingvar Oldsberg
9. Jessica Lindgren
10. Peter Stormare

(Translation by Carola International)

This is the list over the most watched TV-shows in Sweden 2006 (programs Carola participated in are in bold):

1. Melodifestival (final), March 18 - 4 240 000
2. Melodifestival (Göteborg), March 11 - 3 645 000
3. Kalle Anka och hans vänner, SVT December 24 - 3 610 000
4. OS-ishockey (final), February 26 - 3 520 000
5. Eurovision Song Contest (final), May 20 - 3 285 000
6. Fotbolls-VM (Sweden-England), June 20 - 3 285 000
7. Melodifestival (Karlskrona), March 4 - 3 110 000
8. Melodifestival (Leksand) February 18 - 3 045 000
9. Fotbolls-VM (Sweden-Paraguay), June 15 - 2 950 000
10. Fotbolls-VM (Italy-France), July 9 - 2 930 000
11. Fotbolls-VM (Sweden-Germany), June 24 - 2 685 000
12. Eurovision Song Contest (semifinal), May 18 - 2 645 000
13. På spåret, January 14 - 2 595 000
14. På spåret, January 21 - 2 525 000
15. På spåret, Janaury 11 - 2 510 00