David Archuleta Says He Was 'So Sheltered' on American Idol at 16, 'Like an 11-Year-Old in My Mind' (Exclusive)

David Archuleta is looking back on his early years. 

The singer, 34, opened up to PEOPLE in an exclusive interview at the Human Rights Campaign 2025 Greater New York Dinner on Feb. 1 about competing on American Idol as a teenager.

"I was such a young boy,” he said of his time on the singing competition show, noting that he was around 16 years old. "I feel like sometimes I was like an 11-year-old in my mind because I was so sheltered."

Archuleta explained, "I grew up Mormon and didn’t really experience a lot of things. Everyone around me was like, 'Don't swear around David. He has innocent ears.' "

The singer continues to say that he "tried to be a good Mormon boy," but has since separated himself from the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which has given him a new sense of freedom.

"Now I'm like, 'Oh, I can be whoever I want now.' I don't have to try and be like, 'Well, is that against the rules or is this going by the book?' I'm like, 'You know what, I get to write my own rules and paint my own story and tell my own story,' " he said.

Archuleta appeared in the seventh season of the hit show in 2008. He notably performed covers of "Imagine" by John Lennon, "Another Day in Paradise" by Phil Collins and "Angels" by Robbie Williams. Ultimately, he finished the competition in second place, behind David Cook. That same year, he released his eponymous debut album with the single "Crush," which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

As for his future with the American Idol franchise, the "Rather Be Lonely" singer said he is not opposed to making an appearance as a mentor.

"I wouldn't mind being a guest or something," Archuleta shared. "I don't think I could do it every week. I don’t like having to tell people, like, 'You need to be better this way.' I don't know. I like to see people for how they are. Maybe give some constructive criticism here and there."

The singer performed a cover of George Michael’s "Freedom!" at the dinner event, which he also just released as a single on Friday, Feb. 7.

Speaking to PEOPLE about what the song personally means to him, he said, "It’s about liberation and being free to be who you are after trying to fit into what you thought everyone said you had to be. That's what George Michael wrote the song about."

Archuleta added, "We need diversity, we need color, and we need the freedom to be ourselves and to express ourselves, especially as entertainers and as queer people."

Archuleta came out as LGBTQ+ in 2021, and spoke with PEOPLE in an emotional interview the following year about deciding to leave the Mormon church. 

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"Once you step away, you're finally able to see the fuller picture," he said. "It's confusing because, literally, the pictures on my wall are all Christian-based pictures of Jesus and of scriptures and things. Now I'm like, 'This was my world, but now it isn't. Now what do I do?' I have no idea."

The singer added, "I've allowed myself to love myself for everything I am, to not be conditioned to shame myself — and to be not ashamed of who I am feels wonderful because I didn't think it was ever okay to love myself."

Archuleta is now working on his first-ever memoir, which will include in-depth reflections on his coming out journey and leaving Mormonism. 

"It's about coming out of the closet, coming out of Mormonism and trying to teach people why coming out is not just a choice," he recently told PEOPLE of his book. "Because people from where I grew up thought, 'Well, you made the choice to do that. Why would you do that?' And it's like, well, I tried everything not to be queer."