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SALT LAKE CITY — In a blog post published on Jan. 13, singer/songwriter, David Archuleta wrote a letter to his fans about his need to be true to himself.
Archuleta, who was first introduced to much of America as a 16-year-old on the popular singing competition “American Idol,” was catapulted to stardom after taking second in the competition with over 97 million votes.
His singing career didn’t start there, however. At 10 years old, he won the children's division of the Utah Talent Competition, and went on to become the Junior Vocal Champion on "Star Search" just two years later.
Even with millions of fans, the spotlight has been something with which this young star has struggled. A self-described introvert, Archuleta told fans in his letter that he doesn’t like being the center of attention.
Archuleta wrote about his struggle to remain true to himself amidst the push to do what others expected him to.
“I was always having to put myself out there because everyone was hounding me to do it,” he wrote. “It was very unnatural for me to do it because I have come to realize that I’m a very introverted person.”
This struggle began early on in his career, and in 2012, the singer took time off from the life of stardom and served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile.
After these two years away and feeling comfortable to be myself, I do not want to be the suck-up type just so I can get more fans, more likes, more attention and fame.
–David Archuleta
Archuleta wrote he was grateful for his mission because it helped him to find himself again and to discover new things. He told readers he didn’t want to go back to being someone he wasn’t after having spent two years feeling comfortable being himself.
“After these two years away and feeling comfortable to be myself, I do not want to be the suck-up type just so I can get more fans, more likes, more attention and fame," he wrote. "That stuff never interested me in the first place … I am David. I love life; I love learning; I love sharing, and music is a way I express my passions and what is important to me.”
In fact, the singer spent time in Spain and France over the holidays where he sang Christmas songs for LDS missionaries serving in the areas.
“It is not easy to be away for the holidays without any family, just as it was for me on my mission for two years," he wrote. "I loved bringing a piece of home to the missionaries there as it meant a lot to me while I was in Chile to have pieces of home brought to me.”
As someone who finds comfort amid close family and friends, he said this trip was particularly important to him, to bring a sense of family to those serving missions. This trip also gave him time to focus on his needs as well.
Archuleta expressed that he realized some fans may not like what he had to say, but that he needed to be true to himself.
“I have decided to take into consideration how I feel, what I think and what I want because, yes, I do matter," he wrote. "My own thoughts, opinions, feelings and ideas are good enough because they are my own and are for me.”
KSL.com reached out to Archuleta's manager, and was told that he was unavailable for an interview.
Archuleta expressed to his fans that in order to understand where his music is coming from, it was important they understand where he is coming from.
Arianne is a mother to six young children. Her down time is spent running the mountain trails of the Wasatch Mountains and beyond. Contact her at ariannebrown1@gmail.com, follow her on Twitter @arimom6 or search her Facebook page, "A Mother's Write."
