Meet Yellowstone Star Kevin Costner’s Soon To Be Ex-Wife Christine

Kevin Costner has been in the spotlight for decades as a musician and actor. After a 16-year-long marriage to Cindy Silva, which resulted in an expensive and “heartbreaking” divorce that reportedly shook his faith in marriage, Costner remained a bachelor for years. The Hollywood heartthrob also faced scandalous cheating rumors for years, all of which he vehemently denied. With that combination, it’s understandable why he might have wanted to wait before tying the knot again.

In 2018, Costner became the lead in the hit Paramount Network series “Yellowstone,” playing the character of John Dutton, the no-nonsense family man and owner of Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. With this recent surge in popularity, fans have been dying to know who the “Yellowstone” cast’s real-life significant others are. And as the star of the television show has been making many more appearances on the red carpet, fans have been focusing more and more on Costner’s love life.

Although Christine Baumgartner married Costner back in the early aughts, she’s managed to keep a low profile. Nevertheless, she’s had an interesting life beyond that of simply being the Hollywood actor’s supportive wife.

She became a model after college
Christine Baumgartner golfing, 2000
Christine Baumgartner has proven she has both beauty and brains. She attended college in Fullerton at California State University, earning herself a degree in business. This knowledge would benefit her greatly in the years to come, though she had no idea at the time. Baumgartner then decided to use her good looks to make a career for herself as a model in the ’80s. With beautiful blonde locks and an angular facial structure, it’s no wonder it worked for her.

Unfortunately, because Baumgartner keeps such a low profile (seriously, no social media presence whatsoever), it’s difficult to track down photos from her modeling days, but looking at the way she walks the red carpet with her husband, we can believe it. Not only could she clearly pull it off, but she seems to understand the value of modeling early in life, as her eldest son, Cayden, who she shares with Costner, made his modeling debut at just 10 months old. Hey, when you’ve got it, flaunt it.

Christine Baumgartner became a handbag designer in 2004
Christine Baumgartner with Costner

Seemingly a jack of all trades, Christine Baumgartner also owns her own business. In a rare interview with the Denver Post in 2005, she spoke about how she became a handbag designer — and not long after, a business owner. Baumgartner said, “I didn’t start because I loved handbags; I started because I was missing something. I use a computer quite a bit and travel a lot. I looked for a computer bag, and they functioned, but I didn’t find anything that was right for me.”

She admitted that Kevin Costner helped her at the time, saying, “When I came up with some samples, I showed them to Kevin, and he said they were beautiful and amazing. He told me I should take it to the next step and he’d help me.” Even without Costner’s support, Baumgartner said, “It’s still a lot of hard work and a lot of time,” dismissing any assumption that she hadn’t worked her butt off to get where she is.

Baumgartner launched her business, Cat Bag Couture, with a friend in 2004. Unfortunately, her friend had other commitments to see to, so Baumgartner hired a few helping hands and worked to build the company up, expanding from computer bags to chic purses. In what must have been a career milestone for her, some of Baumgartner’s Cat Bag Couture designs were even featured on “Desperate Housewives.”

She met Costner back in the ’80s when he was still married
Baumgartner and Costner

Back in the day, everyone thought Kevin Costner and Cindy Costner (née Silva) were meant to be. They were married for 16 years (from 1978 to 1994), had children together, and made regular appearances at events, hand in hand. So perhaps it was fate (or misfortune for Silva) that Costner met Christine Baumgartner for the first time in the ’80s, back when she was still modeling, and he was with his wife. As far as we know, it didn’t amount to anything, and Costner remained with his wife for a few more years.

After his divorce, Costner and Baumgartner met again on a golf course while he was preparing for his 1996 film, “Tin Cup.” But, it still wasn’t their time, as Costner went on to date Bridget Rooney and father a child with her. It wasn’t until he’d ended his relationship with Rooney that Costner and Baumgartner hit it off officially, in 1998.

In speaking about Baumgartner, Costner told People, “We exchanged numbers, and I told her that I would — did she mind if I called her in two weeks. I did not realize that was like an insult to a woman.” The couple worked things out and finally found their way to one another — but not without some difficulties.

Christine Baumgartner nearly called it quits with Kevin Costner because she wanted children
Baumgartner and Costner at game

Their relationship was great, but there was a sore spot for the couple. While Kevin Costner was already a father to four children with two other women, Christine Baumgartner had yet to have any, and this was a deal breaker for her. After dating for some time, she finally drew a line in the sand in 2002. In speaking with Parade, Costner explained, “She said, ‘I’m going to wait for you, but not long. When you come to your senses, come back to me.’ And I did.”

In 2020, Costner spoke with Extra about the ultimatum and how he eventually came around to the idea of children again. “It was unusual … that somebody puts the news out right there the first day, and it took me about six years to get there … and finally, there came a moment where maybe this doesn’t go forward … because I thought to myself, you know, I could be divorced again but what I couldn’t be is divorced again with children. That crushed me,” he said.

Costner said he asked himself, “Are you gonna miss life? Are you gonna miss love, because you’re afraid? And the answer finally came back: I’m not gonna lose her because I’m gonna be afraid.”

She married Costner on his ranch in 2004
Costner and Baumgartner wearing hats

With all of their cards on the table, Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner reached an understanding, and all was well. In June 2003, Costner popped the big question and, of course, Baumgartner said yes.

The couple’s wedding took place in September of 2004 on Costner’s ranch in Aspen, Colorado. The event was as elaborate as it was beautiful, with Costner arriving in a horse-drawn carriage, and Baumgartner arriving in a vintage pickup truck. They said their vows in a meadow among 320 guests who had been invited to stay over the course of four days, some of whom included Tim Allen, Bruce Willis, and Don Johnson.

Speaking with InStyle about the wedding venue, Baumgartner said, “One of our common bonds is that we are both big outdoors people.” After they said their “I do’s,” the newlyweds went for a canoe ride. Baumgartner commented that her wedding dress, designed by Monique Lhuillier, was a concern for some when they set off on their boat adventure. “People worried about my dress, but it was so romantic. Kevin paddled me into a private world,” she said.