MURRAY -- For Utah's David Archuleta, the bright lights of Hollywood are fun but there's no place like home.

"I just want to say thank you guys, so much," Archuleta told the crowd from a stage, seeming a little embarrassed by the welcome. "It means the world to me."

He sang "Angels," "Stand By Me" and "Imagine," all from his "Idol" appearances, and told fans it was OK if they voted for other finalists.

"I just want to keep making Murray proud," Archuleta said. "I just hope that you guys are enjoying the performances I give because I'm giving it my best."

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman declared "David Archuleta Day" and asked Murray High to "kindly excuse" some of the teen's absences over the past few months.

There were arches of black and orange balloons, the school's colors, at the football stadium, and many people wore T-shirts that read, "I Voted For David Archuleta."

Earlier in the day, Archuleta appeared briefly at the Gateway Mall in downtown Salt Lake City. Thousands of screaming fans asked him to sign whatever they had on hand, including cell phones.

After signing only a few autographs, Fox producers told Archuleta he had to go, but Archuleta protested and even began to cry. Of course, several girls in the crowd had already been crying since he arrived.

Before Archuleta arrived, his vocal coach, Holladay resident Dean Kaelin, said Archuleta might be in for a big shock.

"I'm convinced that he doesn't have a clue how big he is right now," Kaelin said. "They keep him so busy on the show, so when he comes home, I think it will be pretty overwhelming for him to have everybody so enamored with him. He's kind of star-struck himself."

Carmen Rasmussen, a former "American Idol" finalist from season two, confirmed that idea.

"The world is at his fingertips, and I don't think he realizes it," Rasmussen said. "When you're on the show it's like you're in your own little world, and so when he gets off and goes home he'll be like, 'Whoa, I did that?' "

Katie Brandon, 16, who sprinted to get a spot in the front row at the high school, said Archuleta's singing "totally gave me chills all over my body."

Archuleta, still just a junior at Murray High, is a favorite on the Fox show. His dulcet tones and aw-shucks demeanor have prompted more than 12,000 fan comments on the "Idol" Web site, MySpace and Facebook.

Brianne Johnson, 10, Marnie Hartbrecht, 12, and Madeline Crapo, 12, get together as often as possible to watch the show and vote for Archuleta. They line up about seven cell phones and start calling, hitting redial over and over.

They know Archuleta's younger sister from school and church. The trio had a sign that said: "I [heart] you David."

His family is "really proud of him," said Marnie.

"And they're not braggy," added Madeline.

"This is the biggest thing ever for Murray," Marnie said while they waited for Archuleta to arrive.

There was a girl carrying a sign proposing marriage, while four girls held a sign above their heads that read: "Future wife (s)" -- with arrows pointing to each of them.

Archuleta's handlers tried to send him away from the rally in a hot-air balloon but weather conditions were unfavorable.

Earlier in the day, he appeared for an interview at the Salt Lake City Fox affiliate, KSTU-TV. Cheerleaders greeted his stretch limousine. The teen's response: "Wow!"

After a song and some cheerful banter with the morning anchors, Archuleta hit local radio stations before signing autographs outdoors among thousands of people at The Gateway.

He'll sing the national anthem at the Lakers-Jazz NBA playoff game Friday night.

Archuleta, David Cook of Blue Springs, Mo., and Syesha Mercado of Sarasota, Fla., are the three finalists on "Idol." The winner will be announced May 21.

• Daily Herald reporter Logan Molyneux contributed to this report.