Kevin Costner finally reveals the secret promise he made to Whitney Houston more than 30 years ago
Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston starred together in the iconic 1992 film The Bodyguard. From that moment on, the two shared a close bond, and Costner even spoke at Houston’s funeral.
Now, nearly 30 years after they appeared in the film together, Costner has revealed the promise he made to Houston—one he kept all these years… Read on to find out more.
In 1992, Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston co-starred in The Bodyguard. Following the film, they maintained a close relationship for the next two decades, until her passing in 2012.
Now 69, Costner is reflecting on his relationship with the late star. During an appearance on the podcast Armchair Expert, hosted by Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, he looked back on the time they spent together on set.
The Bodyguard is a romantic drama starring Houston as a famous singer who falls in love with her bodyguard, played by Costner, who is trying to protect her from a stalker.
Although the film received mixed reviews, it was a major box office success, grossing over $410 million worldwide.
Costner revealed, “She was my choice,” adding, “I was the actor, I produced it, and I chose her.”
He went on to explain that director Mick Johnson felt “uncomfortable” with Houston in the lead role, but Costner stood firm in his decision and made sure the singer got her big-screen debut.
Costner also shared that Houston “trusted him” on set in a way she didn’t trust anyone else involved in the production. “I started guiding her—not trying to take over from my director—but I had made her a promise,” he said.
“I promised Whitney she would be good in it… We had this movie that worked, and that was my promise to her. She would always want me in the song, and I would always keep my promise to her.”
Their bond remained strong even after filming ended. They were so close that Costner was asked to speak at Houston’s public funeral in February 2012.
The actor recalled that at first, he didn’t want to speak, but music legend Dionne Warwick encouraged him to reconsider.
“I just said yes. I could feel the weight that had been on her now shifting onto me. What was I going to say about this girl?” he remembered.
“Then I went back to that church in Newark, and it was packed. It was electric—there were two bands playing, the church was alive. It was like a boom.”
Costner admitted he didn’t feel fully prepared to deliver the speech. He remembered seeing Oprah Winfrey and Diane Sawyer in the audience and even considered asking them to take his place.
“I had been working on this speech… trying to gather everything I wanted to say, and finally I put it together,” he said.
“Someone told me, ‘CNN is here—they’d appreciate it if your speech were shorter because of commercial breaks.’ And I said, ‘Deal with it. They can run ads while I’m speaking—I don’t care.’”
“I started speaking, and about 17 minutes later, I was done,” Costner added, saying he felt he had said everything he needed to.
Costner was one of eight speakers at the funeral, and his speech was widely praised.
In it, he mentioned that “I Will Always Love You” was not originally intended for The Bodyguard—the first choice had been “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted.”
“So what becomes of our broken hearts?” he asked the audience.
“Whitney is coming home today, to the place where it all began, and I urge everyone—here and around the world—to dry your tears, hold your grief—and maybe even your anger—long enough to remember the sweet miracle of Whitney.”
The film’s soundtrack became even more successful than the movie itself. Houston, who served as co-executive producer, recorded six new songs for it.
Her version of “I Will Always Love You,” originally by Dolly Parton, remains one of the best-selling physical singles of all time.
It went 18-times platinum and earned Houston GRAMMY Awards for Album of the Year and Record of the Year in 1994. The RIAA later named it the best-selling soundtrack of the century.
On the red carpet at the 2022 Oscars, Costner once again reflected on Houston, describing her as “a very street-smart girl—she knew things.”
“I knew she could do the role, but she wasn’t sure,” he said. “There came a moment when she had to decide, and I saw that she trusted me—and from then on, that was it.”
“That was my promise to her—that she would look great and be great,” he recalled with a smile. The film itself was nominated for two Academy Awards, both for Best Original Song.
Kevin Costner’s affection for Whitney Houston has always been clear. He never misses an opportunity to speak about how much he admired and cared for her.
She is still deeply missed by fans around the world.
Share this story with other fans of these two stars so they can learn about this touching story too.
The ’60s Icon Who Lost Love And Endured Tragedy: Her Photos At 86
Connie Francis stands as one of the most influential and successful female vocalists in American music history—a performer whose unmistakable voice helped define the sound of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
With timeless classics such as “Who’s Sorry Now?”, “Stupid Cupid,” “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own,” and “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” she became an international sensation, captivating audiences around the world with her emotional delivery and remarkable vocal versatility.
Behind the glamour, however, was a life marked by extraordinary triumphs, heartbreaking loss, and an unwavering determination to survive challenges that would have broken many others.
Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, Connie showed musical talent from an early age. Recognizing her potential, her father became the driving force behind her career.
Fiercely ambitious and deeply determined to see his daughter succeed, he encouraged—and often pressured—her to perform from childhood.
Under his strict guidance, Connie appeared in talent competitions, television programs, and live performances while still very young.
Although his relentless efforts ultimately helped launch one of the most successful careers in popular music, they also created enormous emotional pressure.
Connie would later acknowledge that the discipline and expectations placed upon her during her formative years shaped both her incredible work ethic and many of the personal struggles she experienced later in life.
Her breakthrough arrived in 1958 with “Who’s Sorry Now?” At first, the song attracted little attention, but after legendary television host Dick Clark played it on American Bandstand, everything changed.
Almost overnight, Connie Francis became a household name.
The record climbed the charts not only in the United States but across Europe and beyond, transforming her into one of the world's first truly international female pop stars.
Over the following years, she dominated radio with a remarkable string of hit records, sold millions of albums, and performed in multiple languages, building an enormous global fan base that stretched far beyond English-speaking audiences.
While her professional life appeared glamorous, her personal life was often filled with heartbreak. One of the deepest emotional wounds came from her romance with fellow singer Bobby Darin.
Their relationship blossomed during the early years of their careers, and the pair reportedly envisioned a future together.
However, Connie's father strongly disapproved of the relationship and ultimately intervened, preventing the romance from continuing.
The separation devastated both young performers. Bobby Darin eventually moved on and married actress Sandra Dee, while Connie would later describe losing him as one of the greatest heartbreaks of her life.
Years afterward, she admitted that she often wondered how different her life might have been had they been allowed to remain together.
As the years passed, the tragedies continued to mount. In 1974, Connie became the victim of a horrific assault following a performance, an event that profoundly affected her emotionally and psychologically.
The traumatic experience left lasting scars and dramatically altered her confidence and sense of security.
Determined that others should not endure similar suffering without support, she later became an outspoken advocate for victims' rights, helping raise awareness about crime victims and encouraging improvements in victim assistance programs throughout the United States.
Not long afterward, another devastating blow struck when her beloved younger brother, George Franconero Jr., was murdered.
His death shattered the family and plunged Connie into overwhelming grief. Losing someone so close while still coping with previous trauma compounded her emotional struggles and made everyday life increasingly difficult.
The combination of public pressure, personal loss, and unresolved trauma gradually took a severe toll on her mental health.
During these painful years, Connie faced profound depression and experienced periods of emotional crisis.
She openly discussed her struggles with mental illness, including a suicide attempt, choosing to speak honestly about experiences that were rarely discussed publicly at the time.
Her willingness to share her story helped reduce stigma surrounding mental health and encouraged countless others to seek treatment and support. Rather than hiding her pain, Connie transformed it into a source of compassion for people facing similar battles.
As if those challenges were not enough, Connie also endured a devastating setback to the very gift that had made her famous—her voice.
Following nasal surgery intended to improve her breathing, complications temporarily robbed her of her ability to sing.
For an artist whose identity and livelihood depended upon her voice, the experience was emotionally crushing.
The fear that she might never perform again left her questioning whether her extraordinary career had reached its end.
Through months of rehabilitation, patience, and determination, she gradually regained her vocal abilities, demonstrating once again the remarkable resilience that had become a defining characteristic of her life.
Despite enduring repeated personal tragedies, Connie refused to let hardship define her legacy.
Throughout the years, she found strength in several enduring sources: her deep religious faith, the love she shared with her adopted son Joey, and the unwavering support of generations of devoted fans who continued to celebrate her music long after her chart-topping years had passed.
Their encouragement reminded her that her voice—and her story—continued to matter.
Professionally, Connie Francis achieved accomplishments that remain extraordinary by any standard.
She sold more than 80 million records worldwide, recorded songs in numerous languages, and became one of the first female solo artists to enjoy sustained international superstardom.
Her influence reached far beyond America, making her one of the most recognizable voices of her era.
Even decades after her biggest hits, her recordings continue to be rediscovered by new generations of listeners who appreciate the sincerity, warmth, and emotional depth she brought to every performance.
Today, at 87 years old, Connie Francis is remembered not only as a legendary singer but also as a symbol of perseverance.
Living a quiet life in Florida after retiring from the spotlight, she remains an enduring inspiration to fans around the world.
Her extraordinary journey serves as a reminder that fame does not shield anyone from heartbreak, loss, or personal struggle, but it also demonstrates the remarkable resilience of the human spirit.
Through unimaginable challenges, Connie continued to move forward with courage, dignity, and hope.
Her legacy extends far beyond the millions of records she sold or the timeless songs she recorded.
It lives on in her advocacy for victims' rights, her openness about mental health, and her willingness to transform personal pain into compassion for others.
Connie Francis is remembered not simply because she possessed one of the most recognizable voices of the twentieth century, but because she showed the world that true strength is measured not by the absence of suffering, but by the courage to keep singing after life has tested you again and again.
