I think about Whitney a little bit the way I think about the Kennedys, I know theres trouble, but I choose to think about a lot of other stuff. She was only 48 years old. Kevin Costner currently resides in California at the age of 66. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { As Houstons name is called, she hears boos from the audience and then loses the Best Music Video award to Janet Jackson. Ben Glass/Warner Bros/Regency/Canal +/Kobal/Shutterstock, SAG Awards 2022 See the Full List of Nominees, Kevin Costner Calls Clive Davis Whitney Houston's 'Bodyguard': 'You Were a Miracle in Her Life', Sally Field Remembers 'Sweet' Robin Williams at SAG Awards 2023: 'He Should Be Growing Old Like Me', Elaine Hendrix and Lisa Ann Walter Have 'The Parent Trap' Reunion on the SAG Awards 2023 Red Carpet, Ashley Park Wears Bedazzled Ankle Brace with Towering Platforms on 2023 SAG Awards Red Carpet, Sheryl Lee Ralph Says Stylist Daughter Told Her to 'Rise Like a Phoenix, but Younger' on SAG Awards Red Carpet. Dec 18, 2012 Chapter 1: February 12th, 2012 Los Angles, California It was the night after, Whitney read Kevin's letters to her, and she woke up mad as hell! ga('ads.send', { But when they worked together, Houston and Costner created even more magic than their characters' romantic relationship or their extraordinary individual performances could have. It completely ignores the couples 2005 reality series Being Bobby Brown, with the same abrupt Hell to the no reaction Whitney would invent on the show, then squeezes the couples most intense moments into reality TV drama masquerading as cinematic slapstick. Writer Lawrence Kasdan wrote the first drafts in 1975, with Diana Ross and Steve McQueen on course to play the leads. Houstons retort to the films radio interview is comprised of a series of quotes the singer made to a variety of magazines and talk shows over the years. American actor, director, and producer Kevin Costner started his acting career in 1981 by starring in the romantic comedy independent film Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. There was little excitement around the prospect of Whitney covering the Motown hit, and the idea was thwarted after Paul Young covered it for Fried Green Tomatoes. Thats half the story. Kevin Costner took the duty of creating her eulogy with the utmost importance. It was easy for us to laugh. On the surface, we didnt have much in common at all. George Michael, Smooth's Untold Stories: Kevin Costner's beautiful relationship with "one true love" Whitney Houston revealed. }); eventAction: 'load' Costner then held up a mirror in front of Houston, to which she saw her makeup running down her face. Houston and Costner headlined as co-stars in the 1992 . I did. },false) How do any three people find each other in this world in this business? But sometimes we do, through fate or destiny. McQueen had been replaced by Ryan O'Neal, whom Ross was dating at the time. Costner reassured her that he "would be with her every step of the way" and that everyone wanted her to succeed. But for Clive, it was a career move that had a recipe for disaster written all over it. But Ross ended up turning down the project, and it disappeared again, until little-known Costner read the script. The film was a huge box office success, with its power ballad-full soundtrack from Whitney selling millions of copies around the world, including her cover of 'I Will Always Love You'. Nasty, but other than that I wish that story had happened in real life. I Wanna Dance with Somebody is streaming on Netflix now. It sure looked like any fears Houston had about stepping into her first film were proven to be unfounded. He still is working in Hollywood, playing John Dutton on the set of Yellowstone. I wanted to impart a bit of the Whitney that I knew, and maybe people could think about her in a different way.. She delayed accepting the role until Costner called her himself. You sang the whole damn song without a band," he added. This is your stage. You were as beautiful as a woman could be," Costner said. It would be about Whitney. ga('ads.send', { The film forged a strong friendship between Houston and Costner, who attended and spoke at her funeral in 2012. It became the second highest-grossing film of 1992 and the 10th highest-grossing film of all time. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022. And that was alright with me. Anthony McCarten wrote this as well as Bohemian Rhapsody, a best picture nominee that was anything but, and Houstons tale ultimately takes the same tack as his Queen biopic: a Wikipedia entry come to middling life on screen. Thank you for being her bodyguard, Clive., Later in the evening, Jennifer Hudson also paid respects to Houston, giving a stirring performance of the singers Greatest Love of All.. I needed Clive. ", Aware of the scrutiny she would get as a popstar becoming a Hollywood star, much like Madonna, she worried that "people would dog me before they gave me the opportunity to do the job.". I knew she could handle the part but she wasnt sure she could handle it.". And sometimes, the only way we can find ourselves stepping out on them, is if someone other than ourselves believes, imbues us with magical thinking that we belong: some greater faith in ourselves that we cant muster alone. And for every person in this room you havestood behind and stood for. All three of us wouldtake a huge leap of faith maybe the biggest, the hardest, was for Clive. Also Read: Whitney Houston in Focus: Photographer Bette Marshall Recounts the Moment She Realized Houston Was a Superstar (Exclusive Clip). His older brother, Dan, was born in 1950. 5 Great Bodyguard Films (& 5 Great Assassin Films), Costner's acting prowess in his best movies. The film opens with a scene showing the Houston children sharing a bong to drown out the sounds of Cissy and John fighting. It misses the rests between notes. 'I Will Always Love You', a song from the movie's soundtrack that spent 14 weeks at No. When I first walked into that church, it was electric, man. Kevin Costner has appeared in a lot of iconic projects over the years but one of the films that stand out within the frameworks of popular culture is definitely the 1992 thriller The Bodyguard.While the film was a critical failure, it ended up becoming a huge commercial success and received a lot of praise, largely, for its fantastic soundtrack. }); Nearly three months after her death, Kevin Costner emotionally reveals their close relationship with an interview with Parade. Kevin Costner honored music executive Clive Davis at Davis annual pre-Grammys gala at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday evening, thanking Davis for providing guidance to Whitney Houston since their collaboration on 1992s The Bodyguard and shepherding the films hit song I Will Always Love You.. hitType: 'event', "I said 'Why me?' Her debut album had a string of hit singles and won several awards. John Houston ultimately died of heart disease and diabetes in 2003. It was clear I really had to think about this. They were all focused on him Atticus Finch Id never seen anything like it. The Den of Geek quarterly magazine is packed with exclusive features, interviews, previews and deep dives into geek culture. Houston would later tell Diane Sawyer of Costner's reassuring words while they were working on the film. I felt that from Clive when he threw his soul into a song he was unsure of at first. You can read more in an excerpt from Kennedys book here courtesy of The Library of Congress. The annual white-hot event returned after three years . }); A lesserman would have dismissedor pickedanother single. Surprisingly, Kevin Costner had a huge role in one of the six songs Whitney Houston performed in the romantic drama thriller, The Bodyguard. },false) Brown did not simultaneously propose to Whitney, tell her about his pregnant ex-girlfriend, and score the synth hook to Humpin Around in one backseat limo ride. Kevin Costner stopped by the PEOPLE & Entertainment Weekly Red Carpet at the 2022 SAG Awards where he recalled working with Whitney Houston on the 1992 film. Afteer Costner became a Hollywood star thanks to Dances with Wolves, he helped push The Bodyguard into production. But another beautiful aspect of the movie was the bond that formed between Kevin and Whitney, who played the co-stars. Kevin stated in a statement at the time of Whitney Houston's death in February 2012: "She was my one true love." Maybe somebody white. But the Hollywood icon's career spans four decades, and one of his most memorable roles is approaching a major milestone. Watch PEOPLE & Entertainment Weekly Red Carpet Live: 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on PEOPLE.com, EW.com, PEOPLE and EW's YouTube, Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as PeopleTV, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The pair forged a strong bond, so much so that Kevin would tragically talk at her funeral in 2012. phew. Whitney would be our common ground. But the film doesnt mention Houstons first major tour in 1986, The Greatest Love Tour, was nicknamed The Greatest Drug Tour by all who partook and shared. This is how Houston overcame her fear and stepped into the most successful period of her career. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. She and her family held a personal memorial the day before the funeral. ", Kevin Costners emotional speech in full at Whitney Houstons funeral. As the film showcases, Whitneys success was met with backlash that she was selling out. ga('ads.send', { Theres no hook for the moment. The screen test was done to prove to everyone else that Houston was right for the role. The film was a huge box office success, with its power ballad-full soundtrack from Whitney selling millions of copies around the world, including her cover of 'I Will Always Love You'. Whitney had become the most celebrated singer of her generation. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); "I Will Always Love You" is classified among music's biggest songs of all time, and a staple in Houston's immensely successful catalog. It was our private bond," hesaid. That awesome promise to protect, that manifests itself in this army of music seated here tonight. let gads_event; Throughout the years and since The Bodyguard premiered, he has continued to speak highly of the late singer and her part in their shared project. "We could also think about another singer was a suggestion. I knew she could handle the part . It might be a surprise, but I dont know Clive as well as most of you in this room. The film does accurately capture the unprecedented contractual deal, in perpetuity and throughout the universe, which was struck between Houston and the Arista label. 1 single in history at the time, according to Billboard. Kevin Costner was another persistent suitor, although he simply wanted Houston to star in his film The Bodyguard. I started [speaking] with the idea that sometimes what you think life will be, it wont be at all, and about what was real between Whitney and me, what we talked aboutbeing in church when we were little, both getting in trouble, about our not wanting to be preachers. It was our private bond," heshared. Whitney Houston:National anthem rendition remains iconic 30 years after Super Bowl 25. Screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. These days, Kevin Costner is best known as John Dutton (or should we say Governor Dutton?) MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of You made the picture what it was. We kept ourunspoken promise to each other when so much was at stake. Houston and Costner met while working on 'The Bodyguard', and they went on to work together to create one of the film's and the world's biggest hit songs. He had not heard a live voice as pure, yet powerful as Whitney Houston and it was quite refreshing. He refused to let his ego stand in the way of his artists opportunity and single-handedly drove that song that helped carry the movie to success. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. "She would always be close to me, she would always be somebody I appreciated." Our journey towards each otherstarted the day Lawrence Kasdan gave me the script of The Bodyguard and the day Clive signed Whitney Houston. When The Bodyguard was released, Houston's star rose even higher. "His own rhythm of language that I knew would create [sparks]. "[Houston] was nervous and scared that she wasn't good enough for the role," Costner said while recalling their time working together at Houston's funeral, via All About History. While much is said about Houstons relationship with the church, not nearly enough is given to her immersion into gospel. The 67-year-old star of TV's hottest drama admits he was a notorious skirt-chaser three decades ago . November 24, 2017, 12:00 PM. Ive been here many times since and I dont think I ever felt that way again until tonight, looking out at everyone, understanding weve all had our journeys. Kevin Costner once said, 'She was a really street-smart girl, she knew stuff. When [Whitney died], immediately people were on the airwaves talking about it. At the time, this set a record for the longest-running number one on the chart. And I needed the one thing that he wasnt use to giving up control. He is the TV Editor at Entertainment. Her voice was unlike any other in popular music at the time. The film is correct that Houston filed for divorce, but Brown writes the reality is I walked away in Every Little Step. eventAction: 'click_adunit' The actor had his own ideas for the film's script, which had been hanging around for nearly 20 years. At first, record executive Clive Davis (played by Stanley Tucci in I Wanna Dance With Somebody opposite Naomi Ackie as Whitney Houston) and producer David Foster didnt like the idea of having an acapella intro to a potential radio hit, but they agreed to try it anyway. It really doesnt matter who we are or where we begin. Whitney saw it as a chance to reinvent herself. Inside Kevin Costner And Whitney Houston's Relationship, Frazer Harrison, Charley Gallay/ama2009/Getty Images. "Whitney, if you could hear me now, I would tell you: You werent just good enough. "When movies are working at their very best, they're about moments and images that you'll never ever forget," said Costner. Kevin Costner Speaks at Whitney Houston's Funeral Jimmy Ruffin's 'What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted' was one of many songs considered for 'The Bodyguard's soundtrack, but it was ultimately rejected. Crawford said she kept refusing, as she didn't want to be an actress. Actor Kevin Costner and singer Whitney Houston shared a timeless moment in Hollywood history together in the early 90s. meaww.com - Kevin Costner once said, 'She was a really street-smart girl, she knew stuff. Neither one of us in the end could protect yourbelovedWhitney, but your fingerprints on her life are clean my friend. He promised her that he wouldn't let her make a fool of herself, and she agreed. He rose to prominence with his starring roles in The . A little tribute to Whitney and Kevin.I've done this video with my phone, so don't expect a masterpiece from it.I just wanted to make a video about them 'cau. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. If Whitney didnt work, the movie doesnt. So Costners idea to have Houston sing the song is mostly represented through the verbal exchange between her and Davis. Houston and Costner headlined as co-stars in the 1992 film, exuding incredible chemistry in the roles of a pop megastar and the retired Secret Service agent hired to protect her. Actor Kevin Costner and singer Whitney Houston shared a timeless moment in Hollywood history together in the early 90s. Kevin Costner looks back on fondly his friendship with the late Whitney Houston, and ahead of Sunday's Screen Actors Guild Awards, he told PEOPLE how he continues to keep her memory alive. "We both grew up in a Baptist church. ga('ads.send', { We certainly shared a few things without knowing it. He went on to share how much the two had in common. Houston and Costner headlined as co-stars in the 1992 film, exuding incredible chemistry in the roles of a pop megastar and the retired Secret Service agent hired to protect her. ", But he quickly realised that no one else could play the character Rachel, and was willing to wait a year for Whitney to accept the role: "I just thought she was that right.". All the world sees is this. Whitney Houston was extremely nervous before her film debut with Kevin Costner. She didnt write the songs she sang, but interpreted them, capturing the imagination of a generation. During his eulogy at Houston's funeral in 2012, Costner spoke about those who tried to talk him out of working with Houston. They developed a close friendship; in fact, Kevin spoke of her at her funeral in 2012, tragically demonstrating how close they were. Houston was much more than her hits and high notes. Houston saw continued success with her third album and sang one of the best renditions of "The Star Spangled Banner" in history. "But I told her I would be with her every step of the way." Georgia Slater is a writer/reporter on the Parents team at PEOPLE. His hand in Houston's rendition covered more than just the recommendation, and Costner went as far as to suggest (and succeed in convincing) Houston to sing the intro to "I Will Always Love You" acapella. "Somebody" is way too long at two hours and 26 minutes - almost every movie is guilty of that particular sin right . Costner in February 2013. The truth is the payoff was a setup from the actor himself. }); At the time of Whitney Houston's passing in February 2012, Kevin released a statement saying:"She was my one true love". document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ 2023 Variety Media, LLC. You sang the whole damn song without a band. "She would always be close to me, she would always be somebody I appreciated. "The church was what we knew. In the film, Brown resents being tagged as the root of all evils, and reminds Whitney the drugs were already there for her when they met. She asked him what had happened. Its what we all wanted out here in this unforgiving town: someone who could see us as we are, someone who was willing to put us first. Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston with Bobby Brown and Kevin's then-wife Cindy, 1992. ", At the time of Whitney Houston's untimely passing in February 2012, Kevin Costner released a statement saying, "She was my one true love," All About Historyreported. When asked if he witnessed Houston's substance abuse issues while filming The Bodyguard, Costner replied,"Not that I know of, no." When Clive Davis, played by Stanley Tucci in the film, heard Whitney perform The Greatest Love of All, he heard the future in the exceptional acoustics of that Upper West Side space. Whitney is discovered by record producer Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci), quickly becomes a superstar, gets involved with (and marries) R&B artist Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders), and struggles with drug addiction before her death in 2012 at age 48. The hospital confrontation scene seems too much of a motion picture moment to be true, but Houstons comeback interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2009 backs it up. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} The pop singers songs lean toward the legendary with tracks like Greatest Love of All, I Will Always Love You and, of course, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and Lemmons captures the electricity of Houstons music in the movies best scenes. gads_event = event; Jermaine Jackson was Whitneys first public boyfriend. Surprisingly, Kevin Costner had a huge role in one of the six songs Whitney Houston performed in the romantic drama thriller, The Bodyguard. I Wanna Dance with Somebody takes a musically exciting, narratively watered-down look at a pop-culture icons life, and while it might be enough to satisfy many Houston fans, the greatest voice of her generation deserves more than a middling biopic. Houston also told Winfrey she was drug-free during the interview. Finding 'The Bodyguard's defining song to go with Costner's iconic voice of a generation was effortless after Houston's participation with Costner was confirmed. Houston would receive the necessary support and assistance from Costner to overcome her fear, as per The Things. We see Whitneys upbringing as a gospel singer, her stern training under her pitch-perfect mother, but not the fruits of all that soul-stirring raw devotion. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. Her second album included the worldwide hit "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and once again took Houston to the top of the charts. In the eulogy, Kevin Costner also explained how he was aware of Houstons struggles, yet it didnt discredit her work. Costner had been pitching the script to Houston for years, according to Crawfords book. eventAction: 'view' 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Houston was then escorted off the set by Costner. }) She was discovered hours before Davis annual pre-Grammy party, which was not canceled, at the hotel. Surprisingly, Kevin Costner had a huge role in one of the six songs Whitney Houston performed in the romantic drama thriller, The Bodyguard. hitType: 'event', Read Next: Citadel Star Priyanka Chopra Jonas Reveals On-Set Injury That Gave Her a Cool Scar and Good Story to Tell, Adam McKay Reunites With Netflix for Robert Pattinson, Amy Adams Comedy Average Height, Average Build, Matthew Lawrence: My Agency Fired Me After I Refused to Take My Clothes Off for an Award-Winning Director, Box Office: Are You There God? At Houston's funeral in 2012, Costner delivered a eulogy during which he discussed those who attempted to dissuade him from working with Houston. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Costner remembered, "She was a really street-smart girl, she knew stuff. As with Rami Maleks Freddie Mercury in Rhapsody, Ackies own voice is heard at times, though mainly shes performing to Houstons own signature vocals. Somebody is way too long at two hours and 26 minutes almost every movie is guilty of that particular sin right now but worse, it feels it. Everybody alerted me to the fact that she was Black, which I knew. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Journalist Gerrick Kennedy tells the true story behind the scene in his 2022 book Didnt We Almost Have It All: In Defense of Whitney Houston. Its almost surreal. Her voice was unlike any other in popular music at the time. That voice carries. After striking up a friendship while filming their 1992 film The Bodyguard, the two stars remained good friends until her untimely passing in 2012, Newsnerreported. But is that how it really happened in real life? It was released after Houston's death in 2012. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), He went on to appear in the films Testament (1983), and Shadows Run Black (1984) before co-starring in the 1985 ensemble western film . Kevin Costner honored music executive Clive Davis at Davis' annual pre-Grammys gala at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday evening, thanking Davis for providing guidance to Whitney Houston since. Costners speech for Davis touched on the music execs long, storied career and the pairs personal relationship. So, it turns out that I Wanna Dance With Somebody got the story of I Will Always Love You, which was on The Bodyguard soundtrack and went on to be one of Houstons biggest hits, pretty darn close to how it happened in real life. Twenty years later, Houston was unfortunately found dead in her bathtub after drowning due to coronary artery disease and cocaine intoxication. No actor was hired to play Costner in the biopic, and Tucci steals every scene he is in, so we let Davis get away with the mythology of the song choice. Nobody ever said it out loud, but it was a fair question. ", He added, "The words provide the chemistry in a way.". In the film, Houstons performance of The Star-Spangled Banner at Super Bowl XXV is presented as a bold personal fashion statement, passing up racks of glitzy crowd-pleasing outfits for a chance to be herself at a ball game.
