Former “American Idol” runner-up David Archuleta announced Sunday that he would be taking a break from music to undertake a full-time mission with the Mormon Church. The announcement was made onstage at a concert in the pop singer’s home state of Utah.

“While I’m home in front of you guys tonight I would like to make a special announcement that I’ve chosen to serve a full-time mission,” he said from the stage, according to Reuters. “It’s not because someone told me I was supposed to do it, not because I no longer want to do music anymore, but it’s because it’s the feeling that I feel I need to do next in my life.”

Full-time Morman missions last two years, and missionaries are instructed by the church to “avoid all forms of worldly entertainment,” Reuters reported. Unmarried male members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are expected to serve a two-year mission sometime between the ages of 19 and 26.

Archuleta appeared on the seventh season of “American Idol” in 2008. Being 16 at the time, he was one of the younger contestants ever featured on the show. That May, he finished as the runner-up on the final episode of the season. Previous to that time, he had been named the Junior Vocal Champion on “Star Search 2.”

In June 2008, Archuleta signed to Jive Records, and his first single, “Crush” that August. The song debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His self-titled debut album subsequently was released in November, and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Since then, Archuleta has released two additional albums. A Christmas album called Christmas From the Heart was released in 2009, and The Other Side of Down was released in October 2010, debuting at number 13 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Over the fall and winter David Archuleta will be spreading some holiday cheer when he hits the road in support of his upcoming Christmas-themed album.

Archuleta, runner-up on the American Idol, will kick off his trek in Salt Lake City, UT on November 24-25. The tour of seventeen cities will run through late December. It concludes in Westbury, NY on December 20. Archuleta’s official website contains information regarding VIP packages, premium seats, as well as opportunities to meet and great Archuleta on the upcoming tour.

Archuleta on the tour will be performing his own hits as well as material from “Christmas From the Heart,” his upcoming Christmas album due out in stores starting October 13. According to the press release, the album will include season standards, including “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and “Silent Night,” along with “Melodies of Christmas,” an original holiday song by Archuleta.

In the press statement Archuleta states that the album represents his love for Christmas and what it is really all about. It’s a special time of the year to spend time with loved ones and family. It means a lot to all of us. Hopefully you will be able to feel that in this music.

Last November Archuleta’s debut album emerged and debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 2. The album achieved gold status, getting help from the hit adult-contemporary/pop single “Crush,” as well “A Little Too Not Over You,” the current single that is climbing up the pop charts.

Although he did finish second to David Cook during American Idol’s seventh season, Archuleta won millions of hearts. During the finale for the show, reportedly be received 44 percent of 97 million votes that were cast.

2009 David Archuleta Tour Dates
November 2009
24, 25 – Salt Lake City, UT – Abravanel Hall
27 – Ann Arbor, MI – Hill Auditorium
29 – Santa Rosa, CA – Wells Fargo Performing Arts Center
28 – Bakersfield, CA – Rabobank Theater
30 – San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theatre

December 2009
2 – Anaheim, CA – The Grove
4 – Rexburg, ID – Hart Auditorium @ BYU University, ID
6 – Beaver Creek, CO – Vilar Performing Arts Center
8 – Kansas City, MO – Midland Theater
9 – St. Paul, MN – Fitzgerald Auditorium
11 – Waukegan, IL – Genesee Theater
12 – Cleveland, OH – Playhouse Square
13 – Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater
15 – Baltimore, MD – Lyric Theater
17 – Mashantucket, CT – MGM Foxwoods Casino
18 – Stroudsburg, PA – The Sherman Theater
19 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
20 – Westbury, NY – Capitol One Bank Theatre at Westbury