David Archuleta, the 16-year-old singer-songwriter, captured the hearts of over 30 million television viewers with his angelic voice, bashful sweetness, and megawatt smile, earning him the first runner-up spot in Season 7 of American Idol in 2008.
Following his Idol stint, David's debut single "Crush" soared to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, selling over 2 million digital copies and achieving double platinum status. His self-titled album, David Archuleta, sold more than 900,000 copies worldwide just three months later.
Throughout his career, David has toured extensively across the United States, Canada, Asia, and the Middle East, amassing a devoted social media following of 3.5 million Facebook followers, 1.1 million on Twitter, and almost 1 million followers on TikTok.
In 2017, David relocated to Nashville and released his seventh album Postcards in the Sky, featuring all original songs he co-wrote. The game-changer, however, was his 2020 album Therapy Sessions, which offered an intimate look into his internal struggle with himself.
David's journey of self-discovery continued as he came out as queer to the LGBTQ community in 2021. He also underwent vocal cord surgery, leaving him unable to speak for three months, which led to a period of self-reflection.
In the summer of 2022, David shared his powerful coming-out journey at the Love Loud Festival, leaving both the audience and himself in tears. He then made his professional musical theater debut as "Joseph" in the acclaimed Andrew Lloyd Weber/Tim Rice musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
In the fall of 2022, David revealed to Good Morning America that he was experiencing a faith crisis and stepping away from the Church of Latter-Day Saints, having been a Mormon his whole life. He then released "Faith in Me," his first song since vocal cord surgery, which is one of his most personal songs to date.
In 2023, David returned to television as a contestant on The Masked Singer, where he rose to the top as the Macaw, a bird known for its exuberant personality. He also returned to American Idol as a mentor, working with up-and-coming singers like he once was.
David's latest single, "Up," is a reflection of his journey and a testament to his growth. The song is about finding the strength to overcome adversity and replacing fear and hate with love and self-love.
Looking ahead, David plans to record more music later this year for an album, with a goal to go on tour once he has figured out who he is as a performer. He is excited to share his new chapter with the world and be comfortable with who he is.
