David Archuleta is telling his story—and this time, he’s not leaving anything out.
The pop star and American Idol finalist has announced his upcoming memoir, Devout (Losing My Faith to Find Myself), hitting bookshelves in February 2026. Described as “a raw and powerful coming-out story,” the book traces Archuleta’s path from closeted Mormon teen to international pop star to openly queer man. It explores the hidden pressures of fame, the emotional toll of religious expectations, and the courage it takes to choose yourself—over everything else.
On the Pride Podcast, Archuleta opened up about what inspired the book. “I’m writing a whole book that touches on things like American Idol and growing up Mormon,” he said. “How do you come to terms with your sexuality when you’ve resisted it all your life and were told it was bad?”
He went on to explain the emotional unlearning that came with accepting his identity. “How do you program yourself out of thinking you’re the worst thing to exist on the planet to find love and compassion for yourself?” he asked.
At 17, David Archuleta rose to fame as the runner-up on American Idol Season 7, charming millions with his powerhouse vocals and wide-eyed sincerity. But while the spotlight made him a household name, it also made it harder to hide the truth he was carrying: he liked boys—and his church told him that made him broken.
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In Devout, Archuleta pulls back the curtain on that double life. He writes candidly about the suffocating pressure he faced—from the control of his father, who reportedly banned him from the Idol set, to the fear instilled by his faith. The book traces his journey through years of emotional manipulation, internalized shame, and the exhausting mental gymnastics of trying to be “good” while feeling fundamentally wrong.
He doesn’t hold back. Archuleta recounts the pain of three failed engagements, the loneliness of his two-year mission trip in South America, and the darkest moments when he questioned whether life was worth living at all. But more than anything, Devout is about what happens when you decide to stop hiding—and finally start choosing yourself.
“I think if you can show people that you can still be you and be happy,” he told Pride, “then you start breaking down those walls.”
You can preorder Devout now.
