Idol Runner-Up Tackles Daddy Rumors

When American Idol runner-up David Archuleta finally got the time to sit down and read some of what the press was writing about his controversial "stage dad," he was shocked, reveals E! Online.

Archuleta's father, Jeff, had been the subject of media frenzy when it seemed that his impact on his son during the competition was bordering on overkill. Things got so out of hand that the senior Archuleta was banned from being present backstage during the show - a punishment for advising his son to add unlicensed lyrics to the song, "Stand By Me."

But while some of the press reports may have been accurate, the 17-year old singer was shocked at other claims made. "I heard one thing where my dad refused to give me water or something like that and that's the weirdest thing. I mean, I am 17 and you know, if I want water, I am pretty sure I would just go get it anyway," Archuleta laughed.

With the business of the competition - which he lost to winner David Cook by an estimated 12 million votes - keeping the young crooner busy, Archuleta hadn't really seen much of what the media was saying until after American Idol was over. He summarized that his father "understood that I didn't like to hear anything going on in the news about me, good or bad, because I didn't want it to distract me or let it go to my head or anything like that because I just wanted to stay myself as I was at the beginning of the competition before all this happened."

Rumors and press reports aside, the runner-up has big plans for the future. He hopes to release music that is both popular and has meaning, while still continuing his education. "Even if music does turn out to go somewhere for me, you never know how long it would last. I want to make sure I have something to back me up on that," he revealed.

As far as the music industry goes, Archuleta has cited a desire to mirror musicians such as John Mayer and Sara Bareilles, calling them "examples I use for people that have done the more pop side of the music, but their music has more meaning and depth to it."

"They are respected as real musicians and artists," the singer assessed. This blend is apparently what he hopes to achieve with his musical career.

And "Archie" may be on the right track. He auditioned for American Idol using Mayer's hit, "Waiting on the World to Change."