BookPeople Presents: David Archuleta - Devout

Schedule

Mon Feb 23 2026 at 07:00 pm to 08:00 pm

UTC-06:00

Location

BookPeople | Austin, TX

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BookPeople welcomes David Archuleta in conversation with Johnny Sibilly to celebrate the release of Devout: Losing My Faith to Find Myself.
About this Event

Please welcome David Archuleta and Johnny Sibilly to celebrate Devout: Losing My Faith to Find Myself!

This event is ticketed.

  • Start time: 7:00 P.M.
  • Run time: 45-60 minutes, followed by a photo line.
  • Location: The second floor of BookPeople.

The author will be signing copies of the book and taking photos after the speaking portion of the event.

  • In order to get a book signed, you must have purchased a book pre-order ticket (which includes a copy of the book) or purchase the book from BookPeople at the event.
  • For high volume events, post-talk lines can become very long. For such events, we recommend arriving and checking in to the event early as that will get you into an earlier signing group.

If you buy a ticket and are unable to attend:

  • We will hold your book at BookPeople for 30 days after the event.
  • We cannot guarantee that your book will be signed. While we do our best to try and get all event books signed, priority is given to event attendees and any extra stock is dependent on the author’s availability.

Guidelines:

  • Ticket-holders will be checked in starting at 6:30 P.M. Please have a copy of your ticket available (either printed out or on your phone) for check in.
  • Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis (and is not guaranteed)
  • There will not be a live stream or recording available.
  • BookPeople reserves the right to cancel or postpone this event if necessary.
  • All event guidelines are subject to change.
  • If you have any other questions, please visit our Eventbrite FAQ. If your question is not covered by the FAQ, feel free to email us at [email protected].

About the book:

A raw and powerful coming-out story from the beloved American Idol finalist traces David Archuleta’s journey from closeted Mormon teen to global pop star to openly queer man, revealing the hidden pressures of fame, the weight of religious expectations, and the courage it takes to live authentically.

At just seventeen, David Archuleta rose to national fame as the runner-up on American Idol season seven, captivating millions with his angelic voice. Behind the scenes, however, he was struggling with a truth he feared would destroy everything: he was attracted to men—and a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In Devout, David takes you inside his deeply personal journey as a closeted Mormon teen turned international pop star, torn between faith, fame, and identity. From dealing with the pressures of being on a hit television show to a domineering father who controlled every aspect of his career—even being banned from the show’s set—David reveals the inner turmoil that he says plagued his childhood.

This searing memoir reflects on David’s ventures with American Idol, a tour with Demi Lovato, and a two year sabbatical as a missionary in South America, charting his path through heartbreak, estrangement, three engagements, thoughts of suicide, and finally, his courageous decision to leave the Mormon Church in order to live authentically as a queer man. Featuring never-before-seen photos, Devout is a must-read for fans of pop culture, American Idol, and anyone deconstructing their religious upbringing, or who’s ever wrestled with who they are versus who they’re told to be.

About the author:

On Season 7 of American Idol, David Archuleta made over 30 million television viewers swoon with his angelic voice, ultimately winning runner-up on the show at the age of seventeen. His journey has included turning out multiple platinum-selling hits, achieving global acclaim as a live performer, and emerging as an undeniable fixture on the pop-culture scene. Since his first single “Crush,” he has released eight studio albums, twenty-four singles, and twenty-one music videos. Hit singles “Crème Brulée” and “Hell Together” have marked a striking evolution and new chapter for David as an artist and creative entrepreneur while continuing to expand his audience globally. Having grown up as a poster child for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, David struggled to be his true self and didn’t come out as queer until 2021. He now advocates for members of the LGBTQ+ community. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

About the moderator:

Actor and producer Johnny Sibilly is known for his roles on Peacock's QUEER AS FOLK and as 'Wilson the water cop' in the Emmy Award winning comedy series HACKS on HBO Max. Sibilly has also graced the small screen as Costas Perez in the groundbreaking drama POSE & ABC’s STATION 19. He also hosts and produces the hit Logo series SPILL WITH JOHNNY SIBILLY. He just wrapped the fourth season of production earlier this year.

By purchasing a book from BookPeople, you are not only supporting a local, independent business – you’re showing publishers that they should continue sending authors to BookPeople.

Thank you for supporting David Archuleta, Johnny Sibilly, and your local independent bookstore!

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Where is it happening?

BookPeople, 603 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 34.03

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