'Wow!': Utah teen, one of 3 'Idol' finalists, comes home

By JENNIFER DOBNER
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

MURRAY, Utah -- For Utah's David Archuleta, the bright lights of Hollywood are fun but there's no place like home.

With a police escort, the 17-year-old "American Idol" finalist waved from a convertible as thousands of people - many of them screaming girls - gathered Friday at Murray High School to celebrate the hometown star.

"I just want to say thank you guys, so much," Archuleta told the crowd from a stage, seeming a little embarrassed by the welcome. "It means the world to me."

He sang "Angels," "Stand By Me" and "Imagine," all from his "Idol" appearances, and told fans it was OK if they voted for other finalists.

"I just want to keep making Murray proud," Archuleta said. "I just hope that you guys are enjoying the performances I give because I'm giving it my best."

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman declared "David Archuleta Day" and asked Murray High to "kindly excuse" some of the teen's absences over the past few months.

There were arches of black and orange balloons, the school's colors, at the football stadium, and many people wore T-shirts that read, "I Voted For David Archuleta."

Katie Brandon, 16, who sprinted to get a spot in the front row, said Archuleta's singing "totally gave me chills all over my body."

Archuleta, still just a junior at Murray High, is a favorite on the Fox show. His dulcet tones and aw-shucks demeanor have prompted more than 12,000 fan comments on the "Idol" Web site, MySpace and Facebook.

Brianne Johnson, 10, Marnie Hartbrecht, 12, and Madeline Crapo, 12, get together as often as possible to watch the show and vote for Archuleta. They line up about seven cell phones and start calling, hitting redial over and over.

They know Archuleta's younger sister from school and church. The trio had a sign that said: "I (heart) you David."

His family is "really proud of him," said Marnie.

"And they're not braggy," added Madeline.

"This is the biggest thing ever for Murray," Marnie said while they waited for Archuleta to arrive.

There was a girl carrying a sign proposing marriage, while four girls held a sign above their heads that read: "Future wife (s)" - with arrows pointing to each of them.

Archuleta's handlers tried to send him away from the rally in a hot-air balloon but weather conditions were unfavorable.

Earlier in the day, he appeared for an interview at the Salt Lake City Fox affiliate, KSTU-TV. Cheerleaders greeted his stretch limousine. The teen's response: "Wow!"

After a song and some cheerful banter with the morning anchors, Archuleta hit local radio stations before signing autographs outdoors among thousands of people at The Gateway, a Salt Lake City mall.

Later Friday, cheers for Archuletta echoed throughout EnergySolutions Arena from the moment he stepped onto the basketball court to sing the national anthey before the Utah Jazz hosted the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA playoff game.

Archuleta, David Cook of Blue Springs, Mo., and Syesha Mercado of Sarasota, Fla., are the three finalists on "Idol." The winner will be announced May 21.

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