Kevin Costner Reveals How His Divorce From Christine Baumgartner Really Made Him Feel

Kevin Costner’s divorce from Christine Baumgartner was a daily headline last summer, and it was something he would rather not experience again. The 69-year-old actor revealed how raw his emotions were while going through a divorce for a second time.

Kevin Costner's Next Romantic Partner Has To Meet These Specific Qualifications After 2 Divorces

“That’s a crushing moment,” Costner shared about his split on CBS Mornings on Thursday, June 27. “It’s powerful and it hurt, but I go forward.” He realized that he couldn’t dwell in the past because he still had three young children at home , Cayden, 17, Hayes, 15, and Grace, 14, with Baumgartner. “I have no choice; my children are looking at me. So, I can’t wilt like a daisy,” he continued. “I have to go forward; I have to continue to be who I am and keep a special eye on who they are.”

Costner has been asked quite a bit about his love life during the press promotion of his latest film, Horizon: An America Saga . Fox News Digital was curious to know what he’s looking for in his next romantic partnership. “I had two unique relationships,” he said of his marriages to first wife Cindy Silva and Baumgartner. “But trying to describe that in an interview and being here to talk about Horizon , I’ll try for you. A person who wants to be loved, and they want to be, you know … feel like they’re at their very best. And that love helps that and doesn’t hinder it.”

This curiosity seems to come on the heels of his admission that he was never dating Jewel even though they’ve been linked since last December. “Jewel and I are friends,” Costner told Howard Stern. “We’ve never gone out, ever. She’s fantastic, she’s special, and I don’t want these rumors to ruin our friendship because that’s what we have. She’s special… She’s everything you might think, but it just hasn’t happened.”

The Bull Durham star’s love life is more than a hot topic because even Reese Witherspoon was dragged into the Hollywood rumor mill with him. Costner understands that everyone got carried away with the gossip because he’s “divorced all of a sudden” and it is a fun story to hook up two celebrities together. But no, Jewel nor Witherspoon are hanging out with Costner in his spare time. He’s still healing his heart, but it does sound like he’s leaving space for a possible date with Jewel in the future.

“I’ve had conversations with her text-wise and she’s so smart, and she’s been through a lot herself and so we have a friendship,” he summed up. “We don’t have a romance, and we’ve not dated. She’s beautiful and smart enough for all those things — it just has never happened for us.” But maybe, right?

Before you go, click here to learn more about celebrities who’ve opened up about dating after divorce.