Swedish singer Zara Larsson has refuted speculation that she was approached to replace Camila Cabello in Fifth Harmony. In a recent interview, she emphasized her preference for solo work while expressing admiration for girl groups. The denial comes amid ongoing interest in the group's history and recent activities.
Zara Larsson addressed persistent rumors during a conversation with music journalist Tomás Mier in the Spotify Live Room. She clarified that she was never offered a position in Fifth Harmony to replace Camila Cabello, who departed in 2016. "Oh, no. I don’t do groups," Larsson stated. "I would never be in a group."
Despite her stance, Larsson voiced enthusiasm for the genre. "I love that," she said of girl groups, adding, "And I also like that I feel like the girl groups are coming back big time." She imagined a hypothetical involvement only if she could take the lead role: "I love a girl group. I just couldn’t take not singing lead all the time."
Larsson's connection to Fifth Harmony dates back to 2014, when she served as an opening act on Cher Lloyd’s I Wish tour alongside the group. "I actually loved to be on that tour," she recalled. "That’s memories for life. What a good time that was. What an era."
Fifth Harmony formed in 2012 during the second season of The X Factor USA, featuring Camila Cabello, Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregui, and Normani Kordei. After Cabello's exit, the quartet continued until disbanding in 2018. Interest in a reunion has persisted; in 2025, the four members sans Cabello performed "Worth It" and "Work From Home" at a Jonas Brothers concert in Dallas, following two years of speculation. Rolling Stone had previously dismissed reunion rumors in 2024.
The group's members have maintained amicable relations. In 2022, all five marked the 10th anniversary of their formation with tributes. They also united to support Normani's debut album release last summer. More recently, in December 2024, Cabello shared videos of herself dancing to "Work From Home" with girl group Katseye and noted that she and Normani were "getting back" to their close bond from earlier days.
