David Archuleta Expresses Interest in Judging Netflix’s ‘Star Search’ Revival, More Than Two Decades After Competing
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Archuleta competed on Star Search at the age of 12.
David Archuleta is looking forward to coming full circle with Star Search.
More than 20 years after he competed on the talent show in 2003, the “Crush” singer told TMZ that he’s curious about the upcoming Netflix reboot.
“I’m going to be interested to see what happens,” he said about the series, which is scheduled to premiere on January 20.
When asked whether he would consider serving as a judge, the 34-year-old Archuleta replied that he’d be open to it.
“Judging sounds a little intimidating in my head… but it could be fun. When I was on the show, Hilary Duff was a guest judge, and I was really excited to see her,” he recalled.
He also reflected on his fellow contestants, saying, “I reached the semifinals alongside two other singers who are still active today — Tori Kelly and Joel James — so it’s kind of amusing to look back.” He added that being part of the reboot would feel like a “full circle moment.”
Archuleta was just 12 when he appeared on Star Search and earned the title of Junior Vocal Champion. The original show, hosted by Ed McMahon, aired from 1983 to 1995, and later returned with Arsenio Hall as host from 2003 to 2004. This new version will be hosted by Anthony Anderson.
“The talent is bigger, the stakes are higher, and the format is more interactive than ever,” reads the official description. “Each episode will feature the best emerging performers across multiple categories — music, dance, variety, comedy, magic, and juniors — competing head-to-head for a chance at stardom. With a structured competition, weekly eliminations, and real-time global voting, every live episode promises dramatic momentum and can’t-miss excitement.”
Star Search wasn’t Archuleta’s last competition show. In 2008, he appeared on American Idol, finishing as runner-up to David Cook, and in 2023, he competed on The Masked Singer as Macaw.
Recently, Archuleta released a playful holiday EP titled My Only Wish and will support it with seven live performances.
“For this EP, I wanted to create holiday music that reflects where I am in life — fun, flirty, and uplifting,” Archuleta explained in a press release. “It also feels very familial in how it came together, thanks to everyone involved in making it.”