A new musical party night is in store when artist, songwriter and theater actress Karoline Krüger (52) will be celebrated in the sixth episode of Hver gang vi møstes.
Krüger’s diverse career stretches back to the 1980s. The 52-year-old broke through with “For vår jord” in Melodi Grand Prix 1988. Since then, the Bergen native released several solo albums, participated as a songwriter and composer on other projects and received several awards.
TRIBUTE: Saturday is artist, songwriter and theater actress Karoline Krüger’s day in Hver gang vi mötses. From left: Isah, Emma Steinbakken, Karoline Krüger, Freddy Kalas, Bjørn Eidsvåg, Ingebjørg Bratland and Kristian Kristensen. Photo: Vegard Breie / TV 2
In recent years, the star has settled in well on the country’s biggest theater stages, and has recently garnered good criticism for her performances in Mamma Mia! and Chess.
At home, she is married to the singer Sigvart Dagsland (59) in her thirtieth year, and together they have two children.
It is not unusual for things to get teary and emotional at Kjerringøy Bryggehotell, and this time is no exception when the main character sits down at the end of the table.
In the programme, Krüger shares candidly about the life crises that affected her and her family over a period of ten years, and how she experienced being seriously ill herself – and relatives.
- Watch Krüger open up about the dramatic life changes in the video at the top of the story.
CLAIMANT: Karoline Krüger became seriously ill in 2010. Eight years later, her husband, Sigvart Dagsland, ended up in a serious traffic accident. Photo: Christian Roth Christensen / TV 2
– Waving to death
In January 2010, Krüger was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in her rectum, and the life she knew was suddenly turned upside down.
– It was a very violent and brutal and very, very formative experience, she tells the other artist colleagues.
The singer recalls when she had been to the doctor and received the discouraging message that something was not as it should be.
– I remember driving from there and I thought: “Okay. They say that when you get messages like that, your whole life changes. Does life look different now? Is it different?”. And of course it was different. It was simply completely different.
TURNED ON THE HEAD: When Karoline Krüger was told she had cancer, life changed completely. Photo: Christian Roth Christensen / TV 2
Ten days after she was diagnosed with colon cancer, she was to be on stage in the musical Company at Den Nationale Scene.
– It was the first play I played in where I didn’t sing. It was just theatre. And I was so scared and so nervous that I was completely shaking. And then this came.
Precisely because of the life situation the 52-year-old found herself in, she decided to push away her nerves and performance anxiety.
– “Damn it, every day. I can’t be afraid of not knowing my lines. After all, it’s my life it’s about.” Things clicked together in a strange way, she says, and continues:
– You suddenly have to deal with being mortal. And you don’t shake hands with death, but you wave to him across the street for quite a long time.
TOOK ACTION: A few days after Karoline Krüger was notified of her illness, she was supposed to be on stage. Then she realized she had to take action. Photo: Christian Roth Christensen / TV 2
– Sad
Telling the daughters about the cancer was difficult, but all the more difficult for the parents and her husband Sigvart.
– I found it difficult to tell my parents. They know so well what it is and what it is about. And I find that really difficult, and I can’t lie there, she says.
A mournful thought also washed over her as Dagsland sat in the family’s new car – unaware of the cancer.
– I remember him driving the new car, and I remember standing in the doorway and thinking that it was so sad that he wouldn’t get to enjoy driving that car.
DIFFICULT: The artist found it difficult to tell her loved ones that she had fallen ill. Photo: Christian Roth Christensen / TV 2
During her time as a cancer patient, her partner became a great rock and supporter for her.
– As the man he is, he took it head on. I thought it was a wonderful thing. He said: “You know that if you’re gone, we’re going to be fine. But it’s just so boring without you”, she recounts with blank eyes, and continues:
– And I thought it was so nice. He was told two things: One is that: “I really want you to be here”, and the other is that: “You should relax completely. I got this”. Fortunately, it went well.
Kristian’s beautiful “Eg ser” version brings Bjørn to tears
Roles were reversed
Eight years after Krüger was diagnosed with cancer, the roles were reversed. Now she was the next of kin.
In January 2018, Dagsland was involved in a serious car accident after he and the band collided head-on with another car in Stange. The singer was badly injured with twelve broken bones and a broken ankle, and had to undergo several extensive operations.
When the 52-year-old received the phone call that her companion had been involved in an accident, her anxiety was quelled as soon as she heard his voice.
GOT CALM: When Karoline Krüger received the news that her husband had been in a serious traffic accident, it helped to hear his voice. Photo: Christian Roth Christensen / TV 2
– What was so wonderful was that he was so present that he was allowed to borrow the phone from the ambulance man. And I heard that it was Sigvart, and he said: “We have been in an accident. It is serious. But my head is whole”. I got that feeling. He is here. We will fix the rest. We just have to “deal” with it, she says.
– Give me some tools
Krüger is open to TV 2 that being a relative is demanding.
– Being a relative is very demanding, and I have a lot of respect for the people who experience such situations where things are chronic. In our case, we had reason to think quite soon that this could go well, and it gives you a lot of power and energy to stand in it, she says.
The two life crises gave her lessons about herself and other people.
– With all such things in life, it has given me a sense of mastery linked to understanding that other people will be in the middle of it – because we all do. It has given me some tools when it comes to relating to others in a respectful manner.
LIFE EXPERIENCE: Being ill and having relatives has given Karoline Krüger life experience and great respect for others in similar situations. Photo: Christian Roth Christensen / TV 2
– You think that you are a straw, and then you realize that you are a steel cable. There are powers where you didn’t know there were powers. There are qualities in both the light and the dark, she says to TV 2.
Watch Every time we meet on Saturdays at 20:00 on TV 2 Direkte, and whenever you want TV 2 Play.
