Zara Larsson Addresses Rumors She Nearly Replaced Camila Cabello in Fifth Harmony
When Camila Cabello famously departed Fifth Harmony in late 2016, the music industry was rife with speculation regarding who might step in to restore the group to its original quintet. One name that consistently surfaced in fan theories was Swedish pop sensation Zara Larsson.
Now, over a decade since those rumors first ignited, Larsson has finally clarified her stance. In a candid YouTube interview with journalist and noted “Harmonizer” Tomás Mier, the “Symphony” singer was asked if she ever seriously considered joining the lineup. Her response was unequivocal: “Oh, no, I don’t do groups. I would never be in a group. No, sorry.”
While she was quick to dismiss the idea of membership, Larsson made it clear that her decision wasn’t due to a lack of respect for the genre. Acknowledging her status as a fan, she explained that her temperament simply isn’t suited for a collaborative vocal dynamic. “I’ll always be a Harmonizer,” she noted, adding, “I just couldn’t take not singing lead all the time.”
The singer also touched upon the current landscape of the industry, observing that “girl groups are coming back big time.” However, even within that revival, her solo ambitions remain unchanged. “If I was [in one], I would be front and center,” she joked.
Following Cabello’s exit, the remaining members—Lauren Jauregui, Dinah Jane Hansen, Ally Brooke Hernandez, and Normani—decided against adding a new member. They continued as a quartet until their eventual hiatus in 2018, famously stating in a 2017 interview with Billboard that their fans had become their “fifth member.”
Larsson’s history with the group dates back to 2014, when she served as an opening act alongside them on Cher Lloyd’s I Wish tour. Reflecting on that period, she described it as a defining moment in her early career. “I actually loved to be on that tour,” she told Mier. “That’s memories for life. What a good time that was. What an era.”
Remaining a soloist has certainly proven to be the right move for Larsson. In March 2026, she secured her first-ever top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with a remixed version of Pinkpantheress’ “Stateside,” which climbed to No. 7. This commercial peak followed a massive surge in her global profile after “Symphony” experienced a viral resurgence in 2024.
Watch the full conversation between Zara Larsson and Tomás Mier below.
