PALM COAST, Fla. – Debby Boone has spent a lifetime on stage, but her love for performing was never about chasing fame—it was about family, storytelling, and connection. When she steps onto the stage at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center (also known as the Flagler Auditorium), audiences can expect far more than a greatest-hits concert. Boone is bringing a deeply personal evening shaped by music, memories, and a message of hope.
Growing up in a legendary show business family, Boone says music was simply part of everyday life. Her father, Pat Boone, traveled frequently, but at home, harmony ruled. “My mother taught my three sisters and me how to sing harmonies,” Boone recalls. “We sang for company all the time.” Occasionally, those family moments turned into television appearances, when her father would bring them onstage to sing.
The turning point came when Boone was just 14. Her father was touring Japan, “He thought, if the Osmonds can travel and see the world together, why can’t I bring my family?” Boone says. What was intended as a short adventure became nearly a decade of performing together as the Boone family—a formative experience that gave her both a strong work ethic and a lasting love of the stage.
As those family concerts began to wind down, Boone was offered the chance to record her first solo song, You Light Up My Life. The result was an unexpected phenomenon—one of the biggest hit records of the era. “You can’t plan for things like that,” she says. “It was incredibly exciting, but also a little overwhelming.”
That massive success brought its own challenges. “I thought whatever I did next would also be a huge hit,” Boone admits. “I was wrong. The song was almost too big—everything after it was compared to that.” Instead of following a single path, Boone found herself embracing a career of remarkable variety, spanning musical theater, television, film, concerts, and even children’s books.
Looking back now, she sees that diversity as a gift. “At the time it felt scary,” she says, “but in retrospect, I’ve had a career with so much great variety. There’s never been a dull moment.” Along the way, she also raised four children—now grown, with families of their own.
Performing alongside her father remains one of her most cherished memories. Boone toured with him as a duo, opening his shows and later joining him onstage. “He was a great example of professionalism,” she says, noting how he made audiences feel instantly at ease. She credits both her father and her mother-in-law, legendary singer Rosemary Clooney, for teaching her the importance of warmth and rapport. “Not everyone with hit records has that ability to make an audience feel like they’re sitting in your living room.”
Of all her creative pursuits, Boone says singing remains her first love. “What I think my gift is, is communicating through a song,” she explains. While she enjoys acting—especially musical theater—it’s music that feels most like home.
Her early inspirations reflect that focus on emotional connection. Karen Carpenter was her first true influence, both for her tone and her accessible vocal range. Barbra Streisand followed close behind. “You never lose a word when Barbra sings,” Boone says. “That became very important to me.”
As for the next generation, creativity runs strong in the Boone family, even if not always center stage. One daughter is an actress, her son works as a production designer for film and television, and another child teaches art. “They’re all creative,” Boone says proudly.
When she performs in Flagler County, Boone hopes audiences will leave feeling lighter than when they arrived. “We’re living in such tense times,” she says. “My goal is to create a show about hope—a chance for people to lay their burdens down for a while and just enjoy great music.”
The concert will feature songs from multiple genres, personal stories, video elements, and, Boone promises with a laugh, “some really good clothes.” She’s especially excited about the venue itself, praising its acoustics and its role as a learning space for students interested in careers behind the scenes.
“I love that the students get to work these professional shows,” she says. “That kind of exposure is priceless.”
For Boone, the most meaningful moments often happen offstage—during pre-show dinners or meet-and-greets, when she can connect one-on-one with fans. “To shake hands and look people in the eye—that’s a real part of the joy for me,” she says. “I’m just incredibly grateful that people still want to come hear me sing.”
When Debby Boone arrives at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, she’ll be bringing more than music. She’ll be sharing a lifetime of stories, a spirit of gratitude, and an evening designed to remind audiences—if only for a while—that hope still shines bright.
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