The Untold Regret Kevin Costner Has About Whitney Houston’s ‘One True Love’

When Whitney Houston passed away in February 2012, many fans were caught off guard to see her Bodyguard co-star, Kevin Costner, delivering the eulogy. Few realized that their bond remained strong even two decades after the iconic film’s release.

At the time of her death at just 48 years old, Costner’s public statement offered a glimpse into their deep connection. “I let her down. I should have been there, and I wasn’t,” he admitted. “Now, I’ll carry that pain with me for the rest of my life. I saved her then; I should have saved her now. She was my one true love. I still have ‘I Will Always Love You’ set as my ringtone, and I wear that as a badge of honor—no matter how much I get teased for it.” A week later, Costner gave a heartfelt 17-minute eulogy, laying bare the affection he had for Houston.

“You weren’t just beautiful — Whitney, you were stunning in every way,” he told those gathered. “People didn’t just admire you, they truly loved you. I was your pretend bodyguard once, not so long ago, and now you’ve left us far too soon, leaving behind the memories of a brave little girl who stepped up, surrounded by those who loved you first, best, and longest.” Behind the scenes, Costner did what he could to support Houston through her battles with addiction and her turbulent marriage to Bobby Brown. In an interview with Anderson Cooper later that year, he revealed he’d written letters to encourage her, though he wasn’t sure if she ever read them.

“There are people who genuinely love Whitney,” he said, “and a few times over the last seven or eight years, they asked if I’d write her a letter. She was always close to me, someone I truly cared about. So I did. But I don’t know if she ever got them.”

In June 2024, Costner reflected on his enduring love for Houston and the protective role he played during her first major acting gig. “I started to guide her,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to take over from the director, Mick Jackson, but I’d promised Whitney she’d shine. That was my promise: she’s always going to love me in that song.”

Costner’s lasting devotion to Whitney Houston, even after her passing, is touching, especially knowing how much her family trusted him. Though he couldn’t save her from her struggles, everyone knew he cared deeply — perhaps more than anyone else ever could.