STOCKHOLM (UPDATED) - Marie Fredriksson is the "Queen of the Rock Bear" (Rockbjörnen - Aftonbladet's annual reader's choice award). She has received no less than 11 Bears (five solo and six Roxette) over the years. Aftonbladet published an exclusive interview today with Marie in which she reveals to the public that she's working on her new solo album (regular readers of TDR have known about this project some time now). Marie is slowly recovering from her illness, and is in seclusion with her closest family.

  Aftonbladet asked Marie how it feels to be "the Queen."

  "It feels very good. I didn't think it was that many, and I'm incredibly proud and happy," Marie states. She also says that she, in a slow pace, is putting a new album together.

  When asked if she has a certain project she wants to do, like a musical or such, she replies "My next work that I really look forward to is recording a solo album in English."

EDITOR'S NOTE (Dec. 16 Update): While this "next work" comment was initially confusing, TDR's reporter spoke with Ronny Olofsson, the reporter at Aftonbladet, who feels that "Marie was talking about her present material." Additionally, manager Marie Dimberg also says that the album "probably will be in English."

  Sundance Kid contributed to this article.

• Aftonbladet's story (In Swedish)