- - Why David Archuleta 'Chose Homelessness,' Lived in His Car at 'Height of Fame' After “American Idol ”(Exclusive)

Jeff NelsonFebruary 18, 2026 at 12:55 AM

0

David Archuleta released his memoir, Devout, on Tuesday, Feb. 17

In the book, he opens up about how feeling unworthy led him to being homeless at the height of his fame

"I was sleeping in my car a lot of times because that's what I believed I deserved," he tells PEOPLE

David Archuleta is getting real about the lows he experienced at the height of his success.

He placed second on American Idol and released his hit single "Crush" in 2008, but in his new book Devout (on shelves now), the singer reveals that he was homeless and living out of his car for a time after rising to fame.

"I didn't feel like I deserved to take care of myself. So even though I was having a lot of success in the public, I was sleeping in my car a lot of times because that's what I believed I deserved," Archuleta, 35, tells PEOPLE exclusively.

In Devout, Archuleta — who came out as queer in 2021 — writes about feeling ashamed of his sexuality and unworthy because of beliefs instilled in him by the Mormon Church and compounded by his controlling father, whom he claims was verbally and emotionally abusive. (His dad doesn’t believe he was abusive and maintains he was advocating for Archuleta, saying, “I love my son with all my heart.”)

David Archuleta on 'American Idol' in 2008

R Mickshaw/American Idol 2008/Getty

After appearing on Idol, Archuleta writes in the book, he was living with a relative in Los Angeles but decided to instead live in his car because he claims their relationship was unhealthy and codependent.

Though he could afford to stay at a hotel, "I had concocted this belief that I didn’t deserve to treat myself well," Archuleta writes. "It was an act of ­ contrition — for my wicked thoughts, for allowing myself to be manipulated by so many. I was at the height of fame, and I chose homelessness. You can have everything, but worthiness comes from within, and I had none."

At the time, Archuleta would sometimes stay with friends or occasionally sleep in his car in friends' driveways but writes that a turning point came when a police officer found and recognized him on one occasion.

"That experience did force me to acknowledge that living this way might have consequences beyond what I already knew. I could see the headline now: 'American Idol Finalist Sleeps in His Car!'" he writes.

David Archuleta in L.A. on Feb. 4, 2026

Eric Michael Roy

In the years that followed, Archuleta left the Mormon Church after coming out as bisexual and is in a better place today with his mental health — and finally feeling worthy.

"It's nice to look back and be like, 'I got through that in my very imperfect way of doing it, but I made it through it and I found a way to feel better about myself,'" he tells PEOPLE. "And even if I wasn't able to accept it at the time, I can look back 16, 17 years later and say, 'I worked my ass off. I worked as hard as I could.' Even feeling miserable through all that and feeling ashamed to even be there, I worked as hard as I knew how to."

'Devout' by David Archuleta (memoir cover art)

Robert Ascroft

And while his shame and struggles with his sexuality nearly drove him to suicide, "I’m just grateful to be alive and to see what I can do with my life while I’m here. It really feels like starting again," Archuleta adds.

Devout by David Archuleta hit shelves on Feb. 17 and is available wherever books are sold.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”