Latest news with #DavidArchuleta
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The ‘American Idol' Who Left the Mormon Church to Live His Best Gay Life
David Archuleta is finally in his sexual era, and it's hard to argue with his reasoning. 'I'm 34 years old now. It's about damn time that I let myself be flirty,' the pop star and former American Idol contestant tells The Daily Beast's Obsessed over Zoom. Archuleta first appeared on American Idol in 2008 at age 16, placing as a runner-up to David Cook. He won audiences over with his smooth, crisp vocals and boyish good looks. Since his first hit single 'Crush' in 2008, Archuleta has released eight albums, but this year finds him embracing a whole identity in his music: He's being himself, he's being gay, and he's being sexy. There's a freedom and joy you can hear in his music ever since Archuleta publicly came out in 2021. His latest music, including 'Crème Brulée' and 'Can I Call You,' off his forthcoming EP, Earthly Delights (releasing Aug. 15 alongside his upcoming tour) is lively, exciting, and gloriously queer. It took Archuleta these last 17 years to find himself. His experience on American Idol shaped the start of his career, and not necessarily in the way he wanted. 'Suddenly, a whole fan base is constructed for you. They want you to be a certain thing—they wanted me to be the teenage heartthrob,' Archuleta says. 'I never considered myself a teenage heartthrob. That's just how I was portrayed. That's how they wanted me to be seen. I tried to fill in that role as best as I could. But it wasn't who I wanted to be.' Though he knew he didn't fit into that producer-constructed mold, Archuleta's religious background made his self-discovery a challenging process: 'I grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Like most religions, they have a pretty strong stance against homosexuality.' The weight of the word 'homosexual' weighed heavily on him. 'When you hear that word, you just think, 'If you're gay, you're automatically gonna be seen as some whore or pervert who's addicted to sex.' And I didn't want to be that,' he says. As time passed, it became more difficult for Archuleta to ignore his feelings. 'I realized that just because you fall in love with someone of the same sex doesn't mean you're suddenly some disgusting, evil, vile creature,' he says. 'You can still live your life normally, just like everyone else does. It's just that who you're in love with happens to be someone of the same sex.' When he turned 30, he decided to come out publicly: 'I figured out that coming out was a step worth taking. It was scary, but it's been worth it.' Growing up in the public eye, Archuleta found people were always prying into his private life. Since American Idol portrayed him as a heartthrob, people were especially interested in who he was dating. And Mormons, as Archuleta says, were particularly keen on knowing who he was going to marry: 'People literally come up to me in the grocery store asking if I'm dating anybody. The Mormon thing to do is ask, 'Who are you going to marry?' And I'm just like, 'I don't even know who you are!'' After he came out, he noticed a shift in people's attitudes toward him. 'When I said I was going to start dating guys, suddenly, all the Mormons were like 'Why don't you just keep that to yourself?'' Archuleta says. '[They] wouldn't leave me alone! It's so ironic that you obsess over who I'm dating, and then when I come out as queer, it shifts to, 'I don't get why gay people are so obsessed with talking about who they bring into the bedroom.' Who said I was bringing anybody into my bedroom?' Archuleta made the hard decision to leave the Mormon church in 2022, though it's a decision he doesn't regret. At first, it was especially hard, as he didn't have the support of the person who meant the most to him: his mother. 'Initially, my mom couldn't accept my sexuality,' Archuleta says. 'The people whom you care the most about in your life, you're gonna really care what they think. My mom is one of those people for me. I was always known as the good boy. I adapted a lot of my behavior and how I acted to be the good boy my mom wanted me to be.' The challenging time, he says, made him stronger: 'When you realize your life could upset them, it's scary. Now I've gotten to a place where I don't care. It was surprisingly liberating for me to be able to say, 'I don't need you to accept me, because I'm accepting myself, and that's the most important thing.'' Ultimately, Archuleta's mother came around and left the church with her son. 'I had to go against what she wanted for me to get there. It's not about your parents accepting you. It's about you accepting yourself and finding that love for you,' he says. 'I hope people know not everybody's parents accept them or the choices they make, and that's okay. My mom didn't either. What I needed was to be honest and live my truth, and do what was right for me.' That feeling of liberation is evident in his music. 'Crème Brulée,' in particular, isn't just a dreamy earworm. It is Archuleta ecstatically celebrating his queerness. The synth-laden track is cheeky, breezy, and it sounds like he's having the most fun he's had in years. It's one of the queer songs of the summer. 'I've started writing just kind of in this new place that's post-American Idol, post-religious life,' Archuleta says. 'Crème Brulée' has fans giddily declaring him a gay icon, though it's a title he's hesitant to claim: 'I'm not trying to be a gay icon or anything—I just want to be telling my message, sharing my experiences, and telling my story. I'm exploring my queer identity now and leaning into that. Earthly Delights is indulging in the stuff that I was always told growing up religiously, that I should never, ever dare even think of.' Embracing a new, sexier side is something Archuleta loves. 'Part of being a human being is being sexual,' he says. 'You forget that in religion because they villainize it so much. We all exist because humans are sexual beings! For some reason, we act like it's the worst thing in the world. It's literally in the book that you believe in, so I don't know why y'all be tripping.' 'Crème Brulée' finds Archuleta playing with some edgy and playful double entendres. In the song, he sings, for example, 'Snap me like a photo,' a not-so-subtle hint at what goes on behind closed doors. 'Before, I was always so worried about what was appropriate and being obedient. Now I can have fun and be silly in this way,' he says. While Archuleta received some pushback from people surprised by his new direction, he saw it as a chance to assert himself: 'I'm the boss, and I'm giving myself permission to sing this. It's been free and it's been liberating,' Archuleta says. That free spirit extends to his social media. On Archuleta's popular TikTok, he sometimes surprises fans with videos that talk about covering up hickeys, or even hinting at his preferred sexual positions. 'It was so taboo for me before,' Archuleta says, 'but not taboo for a lot of people. It's refreshing to feel so loose and relaxed, and not be so uptight about things.' 'I grew up on a reality TV show. That's how I was raised, to share and be exposed, whether I wanted it or not, and for people to connect with me on that level,' Archuleta says. He only asks one thing of his audience: 'I'm in a new phase. Let me be and let me live my life and share my journey as I see fit.' This summer, Archuleta performed at Pride events across America, including DC World Pride earlier this month alongside such artists as Troye Sivan and Cynthia Erivo. 'It was really great to celebrate,' he says. And Archuleta also recognizes that it's more vital than ever to be performing loudly and proudly as a queer artist. 'Being queer isn't easy,' he says. 'We're not a majority, but we will always be a constant in society. No matter what ethnicity, no matter what part of the world, no matter what, we will always be there. We didn't choose to be this way—we came into the world like this. Hopefully, everyone will be able to live without having to fear of other people think of us or how people treat us. We will continue to celebrate and make ourselves known.'
Axios
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
It's Pride Month in Salt Lake City. Here's your guide to events
Salt Lake City's busiest Pride weekend has arrived. Here are the events you need to know about to celebrate. Friday 🪩 Pride youth dance: Shake it off at this retro dance party for ages 14-20, featuring a photo booth and mocktails. When: 8-11pm Where: Salt Lake City Main Library Atrium Admission: $8 Saturday 🪧 Rally and march: The Utah Pride Center and Equality Utah will organize this rally with multiple speakers. When: 10am Where: Utah State Capitol 🏳️🌈 Utah Pride Festival: The state's largest LGBTQ+ celebration returns with performances by David Archuleta, CupcakKe and more. Where: Washington and Library Square When: 11am-10:30pm Saturday; Noon-7pm Sunday Sunday 🥁 Utah Pride Parade: Roughly 150,000 attendees are expected at the parade. When: 10am Where: The route will stretch from 100 South and West Temple to 400 East and 300 South. Upcoming events this month 🛍️ Millcreek Pride: This celebration will feature a Pride market, car wash, runway contest and bingo. When: Noon-10pm June 14 Where: Millcreek Common 🎶 SLC Pride: This event is back for its second year and will feature a queer youth market and live entertainment. Bike valet will be available.
CBS News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
David Archuleta, Lil' Mo headlining 2025 Pittsburgh Pride festival
The Pittsburgh Pride festival is returning in 2025. Running from May 30 through June 1, the festival's theme this year is "YOUniting Diversity." The event will feature headlining musical performances from former "American Idol" finalist David Archuleta and legendary R&B singer Lil' Mo. In addition to concert festivities, the events will include over 300 vendors and 70 local performers. "This is a declaration. YOUniting Diversity is not just a theme. It is a call to stand shoulder to shoulder across every race, every gender, every voice. In a time when entire communities are under attack and the most vulnerable among us are being threatened, erased, and pushed to the edge, we stand our ground," said Dena Stanley, director of Pittsburgh Pride. Other weekend highlights include the Pride Prom, an "18 and over celebration of queer joy come dressed in what reflects your power, your beauty, and your truth," and Sunday's Pride parade, per an accompanying news release. The lineup for the parade begins at 10 a.m. Sunday with a step-off at noon in Downtown Pittsburgh. The route will lead to the festival grounds at Allegheny Commons Park West by 1 p.m. The parade will feature a local and national grand marshal. The local grand marshal will be Jeff Freedman, a longtime Pride organizer and Pittsburgh native, while the national grand marshal will be Lydia B. Kollins, a performer from "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17" and "All Stars 10." Ticket and more event information can be found here.
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Who remains on Season 23 of 'American Idol'? Start time, how to watch next episode
Who remains on Season 23 of 'American Idol'? Start time, how to watch next episode Show Caption Hide Caption David Archuleta says Lady Gaga butt-dialed him at 3 a.m. Archuleta reveals he got an early look at Lady Gaga's breakout hit "Just Dance" while recording his debut, "Crush," and once got a butt dial from her. Entertain This! The country is one step closer to learning the identity of its next "American Idol." Only 12 contestants remain in the singing competition after the April 27 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-themed episode, where singers had the opportunity to dazzle the judges (and audience) with their own rendition of a track by any one of the nearly 400 Rock Hall inductees. "Fire and Rain" singer James Taylor, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000, served as the guest mentor for the remaining contestants. Ryan Seacrest, the longtime "American Idol" emcee, also announced the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees – a group that includes Cyndi Lauper, Outkast and Soundgarden – on last week's episode. The group of aspiring music stars, including platinum ticket winner Filo Ebid, will continue to fight to make their dreams a reality on "American Idol." Here's how to watch this week's episode(s) of "American Idol," and who's left in the singing competition. Episode 12 recap: 'American Idol' eliminates 2 singers to reveal Top 12 in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame week Who's left on 'American Idol' Season 23? After the April 28 episode of "American Idol," only 12 contestants remain in the competition to become America's next top "Idol." The remaining singers, who either secured enough audience votes or were spared by the judges, include: Canaan James Hill Gabby Samone Mattie Pruitt Thunderstorm Artis Slater Nalley Breanna Nix John Foster Filo Kolbi Jordan Josh King Jamal Roberts Ché Desmond Roberts, who wowed the judges with a cover of Lionel Richie's "Jesus is Love," did not receive enough votes to crack the Top 12 and was sent home, as was powerhouse singer Amanda Barise. Carrie Underwood performs 'Alone' on 'American Idol' 20 years after iconic 2005 rendition 'American Idol' Season 23 episode schedule Season 23 of "American Idol" is almost over, but that doesn't mean you have to miss any of the action. We've provided a list of remaining episodes (and their air dates) so you can make plans. "Ladies' Night" episode airs Sunday, May 4 "Judge's Song Contest" airs Monday, May 5 TBA episode airs Sunday, May 11 Season 23 finale airs Sunday, May 18 What time does 'American Idol' air? "American Idol" airs on Sunday and Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. How to watch 'American Idol' Season 23 "American Idol" airs Sunday and Monday nights on ABC, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the next day. The show can be watched live on the ABC app or website, along with livestreaming sites that allow viewers to tune in in real-time. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage. How to vote on 'American Idol' There are three ways to vote, according to ABC: On a browser at On the American Idol app Download on supported iOS devices from the Apple App Store Download on supported Android devices from the Google Play store Or by SMS text* Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
CBS News
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Singer/songwriter David Archuleta talks Miami and music
From the American Idol stage to now a global music sensation and advocate, David Archuleta is blazing the trail with the powerful story of self-discovery through his singing and songwriting. Archuleta, who was born in Miami, said it holds a special place in his heart. "It's where my memories began of music, of flavor," Archuleta said. "I've actually been going and writing more, I'm writing more in Miami and with Miami songwriters and there's just there's a gusto, there's a flair to the city, there's some amazing music that I think a lot of people don't realize comes from Miami." Archuleta's new song Crème Brulée just reached over one million views and is leading Spotify's coveted Obsessed playlist. "It's kind of wild, I wasn't expecting people to get this hyped about the song," Archuleta said. "I felt like people were going like it, I got inspired by the pop girlies last summer." A big part of Archuleta's music has been discovering himself, navigating his own identity and now being a voice for the LGBTQ community. "I learned to love myself instead of being afraid of myself and that has changed everything. It's changed how I write, it's changed how I love myself. It's a really amazing feeling and I'm trying to just spread that," Archuleta said.
