- - 'American Idol' finalist David Archuleta on overcoming alleged abuse, his hopeful future

Clare Mulroy, USA TODAYFebruary 17, 2026 at 9:18 AM

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This isn’t David Archuleta’s first memoir, but it’s the first one that really feels like him.

“Devout” (out now from Gallery Books) comes nearly two decades after Archuleta gained a national following as the 17-year-old runner-up of "American Idol" Season 7. In the years that followed, he released his hit single “Crush” and his self-titled debut album, embarked on tours for "American Idol" and his Christmas albums, then left it behind for two years for a missionary trip with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Behind the scenes, Archuleta was struggling with an unstable home life, where he alleges his dad was emotionally abusive. He was also coming to terms with his sexuality, which was at odds with his Mormon upbringing.

David Archuleta is telling his story from his perspective for the first time in "Devout," out now.

His 2010 debut memoir, “Chords of Strength,” was his management's suggestion, he says. He didn’t really feel he had a lot to say. His dad, who he says took a controlling stance in his career, acted as a ghostwriter.

“Devout,” on the other hand, is wholly Archuleta’s, even if it made the experience that much harder. Now 35, he delivers honesty and vulnerability, even breaking the fourth wall to do so (“I’ve been crying while typing. The writing experience for this book can be very uncomfortable,” he writes).

“It's interesting how that happens,” Archuleta tells USA TODAY. “You move on, you grow up, but when you suddenly revisit your past, you still remember it as that age and you're not able to really distinguish (or) separate that you are in a different place, you've grown up, you can see it differently.”

David Archuleta opens up about father's alleged abuse

It was Archuleta’s father, Jeff, who pushed him toward the spotlight. He encouraged Archuleta’s singing from a young age. But Archuleta writes he felt like he was “being played” by his father. He controlled Archuleta’s song choices on "Idol," and Archuleta writes that his “success only reinforced (Jeff’s) conviction that his role as my musical guide was righteous.”

"Idol" eventually banned Jeff from rehearsals for meddling.

While he was on Star Search, and again later in his teen years, he and his dad slept in their car to avoid hotel room costs. He instilled an “us versus them” mentality toward coaches and peers that made Archuleta feel isolated. He asked for an exorbitant percentage of Archuleta’s income and used it to gamble online, Archuleta writes in “Devout.” Even when Archuleta finally found “peace” away from him on his mission in Chile, their limited catch-ups were full of “one-sided” and “condescending” conversations.

David Archuleta performs on NBC's "Today" show in New York in 2008 as a finalist on "American Idol."

"’Why does this guy have to be my dad?’ is how I felt at the time. And why does he treat me like this?” Archuleta says. “He keeps telling me that I keep treating him bad and no son would treat their dad like this. I don't know what I'm doing. I'm like, ‘Dad, I'm like, I'm (expletive) doing everything that you asked me to do and it's still not enough.’ At the time, I used to write in my journal: ‘I feel like I can tear my heart out and let him eat it up and it still wouldn't be enough for him.' There's nothing I can do.”

It was only after a heart-to-heart with a missionary leader that he realized what his dad was doing was emotional, verbal and mental abuse, Archuleta says. USA TODAY has reached out to Jeff Archuleta for comment. He told People that he doesn't believe he was abusive and was instead advocating for his son, whom he loves.

Jennette McCurdy encouraged David Archuleta to open up in memoir

Untangling childhood trauma took years of therapy. What also helped was his friendship with Jennette McCurdy, another child star who later opened up about her abusive mother in memoir “I’m Glad My Mom Died.”

Both stars were Mormon and bonded over their shared religion when Archuleta guest-starred on sitcom "iCarly." Later, they’d connect over leaving the church and their parents. It was McCurdy who encouraged Archuleta to write a book, even putting him in touch with the team at Simon & Schuster, who published her book.

“I'm just really appreciative that my friend felt like my story was worth telling and I think she knew how life-changing and liberating it was for her to write her experiences,” Archuleta says. “She wanted me to have that experience as well.”

Jennette McCurdy, author: The former child actor gets real about Hollywood

David Archuleta still wants to change minds in the Mormon church

Coming out as queer was another kind of liberation for Archuleta. The period leading up to his 2021 Instagram post about his sexuality was dark – Archuleta struggled with suicidal thoughts and depression. He had come out to his family and faith leaders much earlier, but believed it was something sinful he needed to overcome.

When he finally did come out, he was eager to gather church leadership and challenge their current stance on the LGBTQ+ community, which says “the attraction itself is not a sin, but acting on it is.” In initial conversations, one leader told him he’d never had an in-depth conversation with a gay person. Archuleta wanted to change that. But then they “ghosted” him, he writes.

"Devout" by David Archuleta is out now.

“I’m still waiting to finish my conversation with the leaders,” Archuleta says. He says he believes they’re “afraid to find out” about the joy and security LGBTQ+ people find after coming out.

“There's still some homophobia that they grew up being taught that they're afraid to challenge,” Archuleta says. “I would love to give my perspective as someone who grew up, was raised in that church, fully devoted, fully committed to do whatever I needed to be close to God and help them understand that by accepting the gifts that God gave me as being a queer person and having that perspective of life and sharing, it made me the closest to what I understood as God that I ever was. Why would you want to take that away from me?”

And though he’s not a participant in the church anymore, he says he left his name on the church’s list of members as a symbolic open door. He’s still eager for that dialogue, especially if it’ll help LGBTQ+ youth not feel like he did. For now, he’s sharing that story in “Devout.”

“There was a time when I thought it was impossible, like I would rather die than accept this, and there are a lot of people who still feel that way,” he says.

Who is David Archuleta today?

Archuleta has shed much of his past. After a period of no contact, his father has apologized to him and the two have a relationship with boundaries. His mother and sisters have left the church and his family grows closer the farther from religion they are, he writes.

Now, he calls upon a “higher self” for guidance and connection rather than the God he was taught to revere as a kid. And he’s found a new community attending music festivals.

“Part of the 'magic' of church was, ‘Come in, but don't expect to stay the same. You're going to be changed.’ But sometimes you are expected to change things that they don't realize you don't need to change,” Archuleta says. At festivals, “I don't have to hide who I am here to fit in. I don't have to darken myself, put myself in the shadows in order to be accepted and seen by people. … It's so beautiful. It's such a human experience to be like, 'You know what? We're all different, but we're all here.' ”

If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call 988 any time day or night, or chat online. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.

Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you’re reading at cmulroy@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: David Archuleta reveals alleged abuse, reconciling faith and sexuality

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