Kevin Costner has spoken candidly about his friendship with Whitney Houston, greater than 30 years after filming The Bodyguard collectively. Costner additionally spoke about his eulogy for the late singer He died in 2012 On the age of 48, he advised the Armchair Professional podcast that he refused to chop brief his speech to his pal.
Costner, who not solely starred within the movie however produced the 1992 movie, mentioned he noticed Houston on “The Ed Sullivan Present” and knew he needed to solid her within the movie, which is a few singer who has a stalker and falls in love together with her. Private guard.
Costner mentioned the movie’s director, Mick Johnson, didn’t wish to solid Houston. “She’s actually sensible. This was a film I ought to have directed. I simply thought somebody may do a greater job. However he wasn’t comfy together with her,” he advised hosts Dax Shepard and Monica Badman. “It was my selection. So I used to be the actor. I produced it, I solid it.”
He advised Houston she could not have an entourage on set, however he promised to care for her. “And I do not know what it was, however we had a second, and I noticed that the world had a better thought of who we had been, so I mainly embraced her. I used to be her imaginary bodyguard,” he mentioned.
Warner Brothers
Costner advised Houston, who was already Strong singer At the moment nevertheless he had just a few performing roles and trusted him. He mentioned: “I started to information her, and I used to be not attempting to rape my director, however I made a promise to her, to not the director.”
He mentioned he promised Houston and file producer Clive Davis that the movie can be successful and that he struggled to maintain the scenes within the movie. The Bodyguard film grossed $122 million According to Box Office Mojoand Houston’s cowl of Dolly Parton’s “I will At all times Love You” for the movie gained a number of awards, together with a Grammy Award for Document of the Yr.
“And that was my promise to her,” Costner mentioned. “She’ll all the time love me in music. I will all the time hold my promise to her.”
The pair remained pals till Houston’s death From an unintentional drowning on the Beverly Hilton Lodge. Houston had been ravaged by years of drug abuse and an post-mortem report discovered “cocaine and metabolites” in her system. At the time of her death. Costner mentioned he didn’t see her in any ache.
Houston’s aunt, singer Dionne Warwick, requested him to talk on the memorial service, which he initially didn’t wish to do.
Costner mentioned he spent per week writing the speech, and when he acquired to the church, he felt electrical, however he nonetheless did not really feel like he was the correct particular person to present the speech. Nonetheless, he ultimately determined to take action.
CBS
However the eulogy practically hit a snag when he heard that CNN, which was broadcasting the funeral, needed audio system to maintain their remarks brief due to business breaks. “And I mentioned they might get by it,” Costner mentioned. “They’ll play the business whereas I am speaking. I do not care. However I got here right here once I did not wish to, , did not wish to do two minutes.”
He mentioned the eulogy was 17 minutes lengthy. “And also you mentioned every part?” Shepard requested.
“I simply felt like I wanted to say it,” Costner replied.
(Marks for translation) Kevin Costner
