David Archuleta's Candid Memoir 'Devout' Explores Faith, Family, and Self-Discovery
Pop singer and "American Idol" veteran David Archuleta acknowledges that his new autobiography, "Devout: Losing My Faith to Find Myself," may surprise some fans. However, he hopes readers will feel inspired to reclaim their own trust and confidence. "I got so good at completely dismissing my own feelings, my own thoughts, and it's taken me some time to learn how to take that back," Archuleta told HuffPost. "But it's been amazing. It's like starting over."
A Journey from Mormon Adolescence to Queer Advocacy
Released last week, "Devout" is a compelling 304-page chronicle of Archuleta's evolution. It traces his path from a musical theater-obsessed Mormon teenager to the Season 7 "American Idol" runner-up and recording artist, and finally to an outspoken LGBTQ+ rights advocate. The book delves into the personal experiences that led Archuleta, now 35, to come to terms with his queer sexuality before addressing it publicly in 2021 and stepping away from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about a year later.
Archuleta emphasized his pride in authoring his own narrative. "I feel like I do have a strength in storytelling ― being a performer has to do with that," he added. "I wanted to be proud and be able to say: I wrote my story. I shared my story. It wasn't in someone else's words, it was in my own words."
Beyond Celebrity Memoir: Family Trauma and Professional Highs
"Devout" transcends the typical celebrity memoir by addressing profound family dynamics and personal struggles. As a child, Archuleta was driven to perform by his father, Jeff, who took an interest in his son's talents after a family member accused him of molesting Archuleta's sisters. Archuleta writes that those claims were unfounded but notes another family member was responsible for troubling acts of sexual abuse.
After "American Idol" catapulted him to fame in 2008, Archuleta continued to grapple with self-doubt despite professional successes. These included being tapped by Demi Lovato as an opening act and attending industry events with stars like Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift. The memoir also recounts a brief period of homelessness and suicidal ideations, balanced with moments of levity and dark humor, such as his early experiences on dating apps.
Family Reactions and Creative Collaborations
Before writing, Archuleta sought advice from actor Jennette McCurdy, his co-star on a 2009 "iCarly" episode, who had recently published her revelatory memoir "I'm Glad My Mom Died." McCurdy encouraged him to dig deep. "There are a lot of things in the book that I never got the chance to talk about or address before. I never felt I was allowed to," Archuleta said.
His parents, Jeff and Lupe, have "come to peace with it," though neither had read the book as of last month. "They were just kind of like, 'Why do you feel like it's everybody else's business, what our family went through?'" he recalled. "And for me, it was like, 'Well, you pushed me to be in the public eye. I didn't necessarily choose that, but it happened and you wanted it to happen.' Your parents can mistreat you, and you don't have to put up with it just because they're family."
In contrast, Archuleta's four siblings were supportive. "They were like, 'We're so glad you're talking about this, because it gives us an opportunity to have the hard conversations with our parents that they always wanted us to ignore,'" he shared. "It's created some awkward situations in my family, but I feel like we're in a better place and we've worked through some hard things because of it."
Musical Additions and Themes of Struggle
The "Devout" audiobook includes three new songs recorded by Archuleta ― "On Purpose," "Old and Young," and "Stay" ― which echo the memoir's themes. He described these tracks as "a step into the past" and a coda to his journey. "These songs are a moment in time when I decided to come out, and how hard it was to come to terms with that when you grow up with a certain mindset and belief system," he explained. "When you're taught to be afraid of everything outside of your bubble, you don't know where to start. So these songs are about that struggle."
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
