Noora Louhimo, the former frontwoman of Finnish power metal powerhouse BATTLE BEAST, has added an unexpected chapter to her post-metal career: she has won the 2026 edition of "Tähdet, Tähdet" ("Stars, Stars"), Finland's prestigious television singing competition where nine artists perform cover songs across different genres in a battle for the title of "Star Among Stars."
Louhimo's winning performance in the finale was Céline Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" — the Titanic theme — delivered in a way that apparently left little room for doubt among the judges. The journey to the title included an AC/DC set during the Rock Classics episode, where she performed "You Shook Me All Night Long," and a Lady Gaga cover of "Bad Romance." The breadth of material speaks to a vocalist built for exactly this kind of competition.
Her victory follows a significant career transition. Louhimo departed BATTLE BEAST — the Finnish power metal band with whom she spent thirteen years and helped build a substantial international following — after the conclusion of their summer 2025 shows. She explained her decision in characteristically direct terms: the band's demanding schedule left "no time for her solo career pursuits," and her creative drive required more varied expression than a single band's schedule could provide. "It's my nature to do many different things to express myself, and that keeps me going," she said.
The transition was handled thoughtfully. Louhimo timed her announcement to give the band, label, and agents adequate notice for the transition. Her replacement in BATTLE BEAST is Marina La Torraca of PHANTOM ELITE, who made her debut with the band in March 2026 during their Japan and Australia tour dates.
Louhimo is now focused entirely on her solo career, with individual singles planned before a full album. She has suggested her solo direction will deliberately explore multiple genres while keeping heavy metal as a possibility — a creative freedom that BATTLE BEAST's schedule apparently couldn't accommodate.
For fans of Finnish power metal, it is a bittersweet moment: a singer of Louhimo's caliber moving on to a broader canvas, while BATTLE BEAST continues with a new voice. Both chapters look genuinely promising.