David Archuleta: American Idol, the Mormon Church, and the Making of Devout

About this episode

David Archuleta discusses his memoir 'Devout' and his journey of navigating faith and identity.

Most people know David Archuleta from the American Idol stage. Far fewer know what was happening beneath the surface the entire time. In this episode of Love, Take Two, David sits down to talk about Devout: Losing My Faith to Find Myself, his 2026 memoir that pulls back the curtain on a journey most of his fans never saw coming. From winning Star Search at 12 to becoming one of the most recognized faces of the American Idol era, David spent years performing for the world while privately navigating something much harder — a faith system that had no room for who he actually was. David opens up about what it felt like to grow up deeply embedded in the Mormon Church while quietly reckoning with his queer identity, the emotional abuse he experienced along the way, and the severe anxiety that followed him through some of the highest profile moments of his career. He talks about what finally pushed him toward deconstruction, what he lost in the process, and what he found on the other side of it. Key Takeaways What David's early rise on American Idol looked like from the inside How his Mormon faith shaped his identity and his career for years The moment he knew something had to change…

People in this episode

Hosts: José Rolón, Jaimie Kelton

Guest: David Archuleta

Topics covered

• identity
• faith
• deconstruction
• queer identity
• mental health
• memoir

Keywords

• David Archuleta
• American Idol
• Mormon Church
• queer identity
• memoir
• deconstruction
• mental health
• emotional abuse

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mormon Church

Books & works: Devout: Losing My Faith to Find Myself

More episodes of Love, Take Two

• Bryce Ziskin on Spirit Signs, Synchronicities, and Purpose · June 8, 2026 · 53 min
• Tony Morrison: The Emmy Award Winning Journalist Who Decided to Tell His Own HIV Story · June 1, 2026 · 54 min
• Jove Meyer: From $700 and a Craigslist Post to One of the Top Wedding Planners in the World · May 18, 2026 · 59 min
• Marti Cummings: Why Drag Is Resistance and Everything is Political · May 11, 2026 · 50 min
• Alessandra Ciuffo: From Winning Guy's Grocery Games at 15 to Building Flavors by Alessandra · April 27, 2026 · 54 min
• Alexis Bittar on Selling, Reclaiming & Rebuilding His Jewelry Company · April 20, 2026 · 52 min