David Archuleta's Father: I'm No 'Stage Dad'

"American Idol" contestant David Archuleta has not only attracted attention for his stunning vocals.

He also has people talking because of his father, Jeff, who has been dubbed a demanding "stage dad" by some media outlets.

TMZ.com has reported that on Idol Jeff - a 47-year-old small business owner in Salt Lake City - has "screamed at his son and has even withheld water during rehearsals, even bringing his son to tears."

[ Idols as Kids - See the photos ]

When David, now 17, competed on "Star Search" as a boy, then-judge Naomi Judd told the "Today" show that Jeff was the "worst stage dad."

For the first time ever, Jeff is speaking out about the allegations to Usmagazine.com, denying claims that he is controlling his son's career.

He also said there is "absolutely no truth in any of the stories about me yelling at David, making him cry or withholding water from him."

[ "American Idol" Extra - Get the scoop ]

Read Jeff Archuleta's complete interview below.

How would you counter reports that you're a stage dad?

First of all, I had to understand what the term meant. When I think of 'stage dad,' I think of the overbearing parent who raises their kids to [compete] in every beauty pageant there is and puts them through a lot of dancing and singing and piano lessons. Once I understood what people thought of as a stage parent, I didn't understand [why I was targeted]. I'm definitely involved with my son, and I encourage him, but I think that's a lot different from forcing and threatening and all that stuff. There was absolutely no truth in any of the stories about me yelling at David, making him cry, or withholding water from him. That was crazy!

How would you characterize your involvement with David's career?

Because I'm also a musician, I'm probably a little bit more involved. I kind of look at it like, 'I'm David's music consultant,' someone he can bounce ideas off, who can help him because I do have a lot of experience.

How do you collaborate with David?

When we have a chance to sit down and talk - which is usually at night or in the morning - we'll discuss the songs and the choices he has. He'll ask me what I think, and I'll ask him what he feels good about, and we'll arrive at a consensus. Sometimes he'll call his mom up and get her in-put. We have a family team that tries to help David feel good about his song choices.

Have you ever been tempted to confront the judges about a comment?

No - they're entitled to their opinions. Sometimes they overreact, but at other times, they've been very instructive. Most of the time I'm fine with them.

How do you feel watching David perform?

It's hard to describe in words. Definitely a lot of emotions come across me; certain songs really hit me right to the core. When David has a great performance, it's very easy to shed a tear or two.

How would you describe his talent?

He's a reluctant singer. When he was young, he just couldn't understand why anyone would like hearing him sing. I think he was blessed with a musical ear that was so far beyond his years. His standard was set so high that he never has been able to live up to what he thinks he should sound like. As a result, he didn't think other people would like to hear his voice, until he was about 10 or 11.

When did you realize he had this talent and how did you encourage him?

I first realized he had talent when he was 4 or 5, and his mom taught him to play "Little Drummer Boy" and a church song on the piano. He played very well, but he was very shy and didn't really sing much. When wemoved from Florida to Utah when he was 6, we didn't have a piano. I gave him a video to listen to one day just to keep him and his little brother busy while my wife and I were unpacking. He listened to this video of ["Les Miserables"] literally the entire day. When I came back, David had memorized several of the songs, complete with the Cockney accent. He was just belting out these songs, in tune, and I thought, 'Wow, he's really got a good ear.'

Over the next couple of years, he got quite into musicals, like "Into the Woods" and "Evita." He'd watch the videos and sing the songs, and I could tell he definitely had talent. When he was 10 and learning Celine Dion and some Whitney Houston songs, I started hearing that he was going after the runs and the licks that usually [only] the divas can do. But he still didn't want to sing much, so we just had to wait until he wanted to. Then when he did, we just tried to find opportunities for him. We never were the type of parents who had him be in every talent show. He was in one talent competition when he was 10, and the next one he was in was "Star Search." He did very well. He had just turned 12 and ended up winning his particular division, Junior Singer. Obviously, he realized then that people like to hear him sing, and it gave him more confidence. The best thing was the feedback from people - that's been David's motivation. He thought, 'Wow, if I can make people feel good through my singing, then I feel good singing.' That's what he thrives on.

How will you guys celebrate if he wins "Idol"?

I have no idea, I haven't thought about it.

Has he ever written a song for you or anyone in the family?

He has written some songs, and they're more like the songs that you'd probably want to record when Idol's over. He's a very talented songwriter as well. When David was on "Star Search," we talked with some record labels, entertainment attorneys and producers to get advice. All of them pretty much verbatim said, 'Have him learn to play an instrument ... have him learn to write.' But at that age, David was still really too young to write. When he was 14, he started writing a little bit. Over the last couple of years, he's written some really nice songs, and he's continued to work on the piano. He started to play the guitar about a year ago.

On the March 25 episode, viewers saw a glimpse of a girl. Ryan Seacrest said David was taking her to prom. True?

That wasn't accurate at all - that was just something Ryan said. Someone must have said something just because there was a friend of his [there] who happened to be a girl. It wasn't a girlfriend; she's more like his sister.

So David doesn't have a girlfriend or anyone to take to prom?

Well, that's not to say if there was an opportunity for him to go, he wouldn't ask someone. He went to several dances during the first half of the school year. He's the type of kid who will go on group dates. He'll get 5 or 6 guys, they'll ask a bunch of girls who are friends and all go together as a group. David's still very conservative about [girls], and he doesn't see any rush with having to match up with a girl right now.

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