At Whitney Houston's funeral in 2012, which was broadcast live on CNN, Kevin Costner gave a 17-minute eulogy. But if the network had its way, his comments would have been much shorter, the “Yellowstone” actor says.
Costner, who co-starred with Houston in the 1992 romantic thriller “The Bodyguard,” was one of eight speakers at the esteemed singer's funeral. At first, he hesitated to accept the invitation to speak, but, encouraged by Houston's aunt, the singer Dionne Warwick, he changed his mind.
With the help of a friend, he told “Armchair Expert” podcast hosts Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, “I tried to compile everything I wanted to do and finally put together this speech.” Then he was almost derailed by the network.
“Someone said, 'CNN is here, you wouldn't mind if your comments were shorter because they're going to have commercials.' And I said, 'You can get over that.' You can play the commercial while I'm talking, I don't care. “
CNN did not immediately respond Wednesday to the Times' request for comment.
Costner's refusal was rooted in a protective attitude toward Houston that he described having adopted at the beginning of filming “The Bodyguard.”
“I realized that the world had a higher idea of who we were, so I basically accepted it. I was his imaginary bodyguard,” she said. “I started mentoring her and I wasn't trying to usurp my director. But I made him a promise.”
Costner said he promised Houston – and her mentor Clive Davis – that the film would be a success and that she would shine in it. He was right.
Despite a Times review calling Costner's character a “joyless mope,” “The Bodyguard” has grossed nearly $122 million domestically, according to box office mojoand Houston's cover of Dolly Parton's “I Will Always Love You” received numerous awards, including record of the year. Grammy. The collection of 13 songs from the film. remains the soundtrack to the best-selling movie of all time.
“That was my promise to her,” Costner said. “She will always love me in song. “I was always going to keep my promise to her.”
Costner and Houston remained friends until the singer's death at age 48 from accidental drowning at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
“I praised her and I didn't want to do it,” the actor and director said Monday. “When she passed away, she heard a constant drumming.”
