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David Archeletta became famous on the reality singing competition show American Idol.

This was in the early years before these kinds of shows were everywhere. I'm not sure it does it anymore, but back then it could make you a star.

He had an incredible voice, but he also had a great storyline, a sheltered, soft-spoken Mormon kid from Utah.

What people didn't know then was his turbulent family life, including a domineering father,

and the deep conflict he was hiding, struggling with his sexuality and praying to be changed.

Archeletta has written a memoir where he works through all of this,

how he checked out of his singing career to serve a mission and defend his faith,

how he struggled to separate himself from what he once believed would save him.

The book is really more about him taking control of his life than just coming out,

though he did come out publicly in June of 2021 in an Instagram post. He says he wrote the book

to share his story, something he realized after a moment of clarity at the Salt Lake Airport

during his Christmas tour.

Just going to Salt Lake, it felt weird because I felt like I was suddenly this traitor.

You know, once I was this hometown hero.

And I was like, I'm still going to church, but I felt such mixed feelings about it.

Because I had come out as queer and I felt such mixed feelings about it because I had come out as queer

and I felt like it was an answer to my prayers.

And who I thought God was had shifted.

It was like the first time I was experiencing that God loved me.

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