PALM COAST, Fla. – Saturday night at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center felt less like a concert and more like a shared memory—one woven from decades of music, personal stories, and genuine connection. As Debby Boone stepped onto the stage, the audience was ready not just to listen, but to remember.
From the first notes, Boone reminded fans why her voice has remained timeless. Warm, expressive, and effortlessly sincere, she delivered each song with the same passion that first introduced her to millions. For many in attendance, it was like being reunited with an old friend.
Anne Paris, a retired educator, vocal coach, and musical theater director, summed up the emotion of the evening.
“She’s a legend,” Paris said. “Every alto in high school choir wanted to be either Debby or Karen Carpenter. If you were a soprano, you wanted to be Barbara Streisand. She was our hero.”
Paris, who now teaches voice and works on summer theater productions—including Anastasia this year—said seeing Boone perform in Flagler County felt surreal.
“I told my friends in California, ‘I’m going to see our hero tonight.’ They’re going to be so jealous,” she laughed. “It’s really awesome to have her here in our community.”
More than her famous voice, Paris admired Boone’s character.
“She balanced it. She didn’t neglect her family,” she said. “She could’ve been on the road her whole life if she wanted to. That says so much about her character.”
That balance and authenticity were on full display throughout the evening, especially when Boone shared stories behind the music. One particularly moving moment came when she spoke about legendary songwriters Alan and Marilyn Bergman, whose work she called “the soundtrack of my life.”
She described their partnership with reverence, noting how they wrote side by side without ego or competition. Then, smiling, she revealed that her husband had even asked ChatGPT how to introduce their song—a moment that blended humor, humility, and heart.
“This is more than a love song,” Boone read. “It’s a meditation on partnership… and the quiet courage it takes to keep renewing your heart with someone year after year.”
The audience listened in silence before erupting into applause.
Among the crowd was Mark Dwyer, sponsor of the evening’s event, who was visibly moved.
“It was everything I hoped it would be,” Dwyer said. “It’s wonderful to have an artist of this class and distinction here in Flagler County.”
For longtime fans, hearing Boone sing her signature hit, You Light Up My Life, was especially powerful.
“She sang my favorite song,” Dwyer said. “It was awesome.”
Judith Podpalka, who graduated high school in 1977, traced her connection to the Boone family back nearly four decades.
“In 1988, I met her father, Pat Boone, at the Beverly Hilton,” she recalled. “This is the second Boone photograph I have. She’s been part of my life. Seeing her tonight is very meaningful.”
Mike Mills echoed the sentiment.
“Her voice was great. Her stage presence is unbelievable,” he said. “Fantastic.”
“I thought the show was so amazing,” added Alana Fitzgerald.
Many audience members also praised the Fitzgerald Performing Art Center’s growing lineup of professional performances.
“I love the variety,” said one regular attendee. “These are big names. There’s a difference when you see real professionals.”
The sense of gratitude extended beyond the stage. Fans expressed appreciation for the opportunity to experience world-class entertainment close to home.
“It was a very enjoyable show, almost like being in Las Vegas,” said Gail Marcinkiewicz.
The weekend’s celebration of Boone extended beyond Saturday night’s performance. On Friday evening, Pam and Joseph Bouch, visiting from Orlando, had the rare opportunity to share dinner with the singer at the Hilton Garden Inn alongside season subscribers of The Fitz.
Joseph, invited by his college roommate, was thrilled to receive the invitation.
“I’m close friends with Jack and Amy,” he said. “He said, ‘Do you want to come?’ And I told my wife—who is a massive Debby Boone fan—massive.”
Pam laughed as Joseph recalled her reaction.
“She dug out three albums and said, ‘Debby, Debby, Debby,’” he said. “We grew up listening to her.”
For Pam, the dinner and concert felt like coming full circle—an intimate moment with the artist whose music had been part of her life for decades.
Connected to Her Fans
Throughout the night, Boone repeatedly expressed her appreciation for her fans, acknowledging the loyalty that has followed her career.
She spoke openly about her love for music, her respect for songwriting partnerships, and her gratitude for every audience member who continues to show up.
“I’m so grateful,” she told the crowd at one point, thanking fellow musicians and fans alike.
That gratitude was returned tenfold.
From choir directors and retirees to longtime music lovers and first-time attendees, the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center’s audience represented generations brought together by one voice. They laughed, teared up, sang along, and lingered long after the final note.
In the end, Debby Boone didn’t just perform a concert—she created a shared experience now forever ingrained in the memories of attendees, cloaked in the feeling of mutual appreciation.
As one fan put it simply, “She’s incredible. She’s been part of our lives.”
And on Saturday night in Flagler County, she proved that she really still is.
