David steals the thunder from the governor.

http://www.myfoxutah.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=8197671&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1

I was also at the Inauguration. It was fabulous (although absolutely freezing!). I have to tell one thing though that was so funny. When David was getting ready for his on-camera interview and all of us were quietly gathered around him, there was a woman who was putting that long black coat on him. As she was adjusting the collar, he looked down at it and said, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Is this a girlà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s coat?à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  We all laughed.
(I actually do think it probably was a girlà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s coat! Oh well, when ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s that cold, you donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t really care.)

haha!

Murray’s “American Idol” David Archuleta sang the national anthem. The ceremony included prayers by local religious leaders, and a flyover by the Utah Air National Guard.

When it was all over, for some, the highlight was clear: David Archuleta.

LOL LOL

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I almost collapsed when I heard him sing,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  said Brooklynne. Asked about the ceremony, she paused. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I guess à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ you got a new governor?à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

lol…

Huntsman, whoà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢d had Archuleta perform at his first inauguration four years ago, joked about the singerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s popularity. The governor said while he was limiting himself to two terms, no one would ask the same of Archuleta.

even more lol…

After his performance, Archuleta exited the ceremony by cutting through the Capitol, while scores of girls playing hooky from school followed him.

Haha! That’s hilarious!

We hear rumors about some ruckus happening back East in the next few weeks — some kinda politics coffee klatch that we’re sure will be vastly overshadowed by the start of Season 7. But the eyes of Idol Nation today were on Salt Lake City, where the most momentous political event of the year went off like a dream. We refer of course to the re-inauguration of Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who in what augers very well for his governing sense had the inspiration and good sense to select his state’s favorite son, the Chosen One, David Archuleta, as the opening act of his festivities — consecrating his installment with a rendition of this national anthem.

Please stand as you watch the above, courtesy of Team Archie that was present as witnesses to history.

- Richard Rushfield

Also, from the Salt Lake Tribune:

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. might be considered a media-savvy, polished politician, but at his inauguration on Monday even he couldn’t compete with David Archuleta for the screams and shrieks of young audience members.

Archuleta, the Murray 18-year-old who finished second in the most recent season of FOX’s TV juggernaut “American Idol,” made a brief appearance on the south steps of the Utah State Capital for the governor’s swearing-in ceremony. The singer performed the national anthem, again, at the request of the governor, four years after the then-14-year-old sang at Huntsman’s first inaugural ceremony.

On Monday, Archuleta’s appearance drew many young teen and pre-teen girls to the brief outdoor ceremony. Clad in a
dark brown sweater, plaid scarf and black skinny jeans, the faux-hawked Archuleta looked much different than he did during his first inaugural performance. Then he wore a schoolboy’s busy tie, demin shirt and dark suit, his bowl-cut hair combed down onto his forehead.

Four years ago, Archuleta’s performance of the national anthem was strong yet slightly tentative, and the singer stumbled a bit on the phrase “broad stripes and bright stars.” Then he verged precariously close to being off-pitch, especially early in the song as he nervously licked his lips. At the conclusion, he received a smattering of polite applause.

On Monday, in contrast Archuleta was shaking, but only because of the cold temperatures, as he performed
without a hat, jacket or gloves. When the teen began the song, it was obvious that performing in front of millions of people in the last year, both on tour and in front of a national TV audience, had bolstered his confidence. The soulful tenor was dramatic, his phrasing marked with melismas — that is, singing single syllables while moving between several different notes — but not overly showy. The highlight came when his voice soared at the end of the song, on the lyrics “Oh, say does that star spangled banner yet wave,” hitting the high notes that have doomed many an anthem singer at baseball stadiums.

Unlike four years ago, he was rewarded with squeals from young fans, and as well as a pat on the back from Thomas Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After his performance, Archuleta exited the ceremony by cutting through the Capitol, while scores of girls playing hooky from school followed him. The 18-year-oldmet fans in the State Reception Room, where Huntsman a half-hour later would greet well-wishers and the media. The singer cheerfully responded to fan requests, placing cell phone calls to friends, or hugging daughters and mothers while signing autographs of his self-titled CD.

He apologized for shaking during the ceremony. “I don’t handle cold very well,” he said.

Afterward, 15-year-old Megan Smith was grinning as she told her friend, “He touched my marker!”

-Robert Gehrke contributed to this story.

David is UTAHN of the year according to studio 5 online poll, and I donà ±t think any Archie new, soà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ congrats Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

Cruz – Thanks for the link. Bwahahahaha! I loved it at 1:30 when he found out they were under a snow watch. hahaha!

The look on his face! “It is? Is it really?” He’s like, WTF?! I’m out here freezing my A$$ off and now you tell me it’s gonna snow too?!!! ahahaha!

Not only was Monday’s inauguration ceremony for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and other state officials the first held on the steps of the Capitol, there’s little doubt it was also the first such ceremony to attract squealing teenage girls.

They were there to hear “American Idol” finalist David Archuleta, a Murray High School student, sing the national anthem. Some slipped away after the young star was escorted off the makeshift stage following his performance.

…

Spectators Brooklynne Brown, 12, and her sister, Bailey, 6, could not explain the purpose of the noontime ceremony à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  except that Archuleta performed.

“I almost collapsed when I heard him sing,” said Brooklynne. Asked about the ceremony, she paused. “I guess … you got a new governor?”

Bailey described the singer as “awesome.”

Huntsman, who’d had Archuleta perform at his first inauguration four years ago, joked about the singer’s popularity. The governor said while he was limiting himself to two terms, no one would ask the same of Archuleta.

I think David upstaged the Governor. :laugh_tb: