Kevin Costner Reflects on Whitney Houston Friendship: ‘We Lost Such a Light’ as He Celebrates Another Birthday

As he celebrated his 70th birthday, Kevin Costner took some time to honour Whitney Houston.

In a touching Instagram Stories post Costner included a vintage image of himself with Houston and hairstylist Ellin LaVar from the set of their classic 1992 movie ‘The Bodyguard’. For Costner, the photo, which was taken from Houston’s estate-run Instagram account, evoked memories. He remembered Houston as an irreplaceable light lost too soon as he reflected on his milestone birthday. Houston died in 2012 when he was 48 years old.

In addition to wishing Costner a happy birthday, Houston’s estate shared the same behind-the-scenes image on Instagram, honouring the lasting legacy of their work together on ‘The Bodyguard’.

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

As a tribute to his lifelong passion for the cowboy way of life, Costner also commemorated the event with a personal photo of himself as a child, dressed in cowboy attire. He thanked fans for their birthday greetings in the caption, adding that he was excited for another year of chasing his dreams—a passion he has had since he was a young boy.

This is not the first time Costner has brought up Houston in public. Near the tenth anniversary of her passing, at the 2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards, Costner reminisced about her iconic rendition of ‘I Will Always Love You’, which he claimed forever altered the musical landscape. According to him, it is a cinematic memory that embodies the enchantment that films may produce and has a profound effect on viewers.

Image Courtesy: Entertainment Weekly 

Costner talked about his experience giving Houston’s eulogy at her 2012 memorial service, which Dionne Warwick requested, in a 2024 PEOPLE cover story. He talked of the tense atmosphere of the service at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, where two bands were playing and the church was a hive of passion. Costner insisted on speaking from the heart because he was determined to properly honour his late friend, even though he was told to keep his words brief for broadcast purposes.

A monument to Costner’s profound regard and affection for Houston, which was developed throughout their time together filming ‘The Bodyguard’, is his 17-minute homage at the service. Celebrating life milestones like his 70th birthday gives Costner a chance to treasure memories and life’s continuous journey.

–Farheen Ali