Archuleta survives to sing another week

For the top 12 contestants on "American Idol," life as they know it will never be the same.

Literally from the time their heads come off the pillow until they put them down again, their schedules are jam-packed. Photo shoots, interviews, red-carpet appearances and rehearsals galore are only some of the things on an "Idol" contestant's "to do" list. There's also Ford commercial shoots (that pretty much eat up an entire day), recording studio times and, for people like David Archuleta and me (younger than 18 while on the show), three hours of school a day.

And that pressure seemed to have gotten to Archuleta Tuesday night.

With a brand-new stage, a bigger audience (whose screams make it hard to hear yourself sing) and strep throat to boot, Archuleta was nervous, said Dean Kaelin, Archuleta's voice coach and also mine.

Kaelin said he did vocal warm-ups with Archuleta over the phone before he performed that night and that he sounded "phenomenal." But Kaelin's reassurance wasn't enough to calm Archuleta's nerves.

"You could tell on his face that he was worrying about too many things," Kaelin said.

Archuleta forgot his lyrics not once but twice Tuesday night. But he kept right on going, "just like an ice skater who falls and still finishes his routine," Kaelin said.

And Archuleta did it with a smile on his face. I think that's what prompted fans nationwide to rally around him and keep him safe for another week.

"I think he's learned from this experience. He's going to bounce back," Kaelin said. "And, actually, I think he's got more support now than last week."

Trying to focus on keeping your grades up was actually really tough. I don't know about Archuleta, but my teachers would FedEx me my homework.

One night, I was so behind on my schoolwork that the hair guy, Dean Banowitz, came into my study room and did my hair while I, ahem, "studied."

The minute my three hours were up, I was basically carried into the hair and makeup room while someone buckled my shoes, someone touched up my makeup, Banowitz ratted my hair, and the wardrobe lady tied on my belt — all at the same time.

"Don't move!" they all screamed while they worked their magic.

With all the added stress that comes with being a new contestant on America's No. 1 TV show, sometimes just focusing on the song is the hard part.