David Archuleta reveals he secretly lived in his car at the height of his fame: 'I didn't think I deserved to take care of myself' American Idol alum David Archuleta is speaking out on a dark period in his life where he made himself homeless. 18 February 2026 David Archuleta made himself homeless at the height of his fame. David Archuleta at the 2016 American Idol final The American Idol runner‑up, now 35, who came second on the 2008 season of the US talent competition, reveals in his new memoir Devout that he was secretly homeless, choosing to sleep in his car because he believed he didn't deserve anything better. Speaking to People to promote the tome, Archuleta admitted that his emotional state was so fractured that he punished himself even as his career soared. He said: "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." In the book, the Crush singer explains that he initially lived with a relative in Los Angeles while competing on American Idol, but later chose to leave the home, calling the environment unhealthy. What followed was a period of self‑imposed hardship that he now recognises as a symptom of deep emotional turmoil. He penned: "I had concocted this belief that I didn't deserve to treat myself well. "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." Archuleta rotated between sleeping in his car, staying with friends, or parking in the driveway of someone he trusted. But one night, a police officer recognised him - a moment that forced him to confront the reality of what he was doing. In the years since, Archuleta has stepped away from the Mormon Church and publicly embraced his bisexuality - changes he says have dramatically improved his mental health. Looking back, he's finally able to acknowledge the strength it took to survive that period. He said: "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. "Even feeling miserable through all that and feeling ashamed to even be there, I worked as hard as I knew how to." Tagged in David Archuleta