LOS ANGELES - A source says backstage meddling has caught up with the father of "American Idol" favourite David Archuleta.
A person working for the TV talent contest says Archuleta's dad has been banned from rehearsals.
The source says Jeff Archuleta was told this week by producers that he can no longer join his 17-year-old son David as he prepares for the show.
The person isn't authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The show's action was first reported Friday by the online website TMZ.
David Archuleta of Murray, Utah, is one of three contestants left as the top-rated Fox show heads toward the May 20-21 finale.
The fresh-faced teenager with the big voice has consistently been deemed a front-runner by the judges, as well as a fan favourite.
But Jeff Archuleta's intense backstage involvement had become a source of concern for the series, the person connected with "American Idol" said, adding it was a lyric change on Tuesday's show that pushed producers to act.
Despite a warning, Jeff Archuleta insisted on altering "Stand by Me," one of two songs his son sang on the show Tuesday. By adding a verse from Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls," the father incurred additional costs for "American Idol," the person said.
Fox declined comment. Attempts to reach Jeff Archuleta for comment were unsuccessful. A phone number listed under his name in Murray, Utah, was no longer in service, and Fox did not immediately respond to a request Friday evening for help in contacting the family.
Earlier Friday, David Archuleta was honoured at a hometown celebration held at his high school in Murray, which Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman declared "David Archuleta Day."
The singer and his family declined to be interviewed at the event, but David Archuleta did speak with the Salt Lake City Fox affiliate, KSTU-TV. "Wow," he exclaimed as he viewed the cheerleading squad outside his stretch limousine.
The other finalists left in competition for the "Idol" title and a record contract are David Cook and Syesha Mercado.
