“I thought she was really pretty”: Kevin Costner Made a Promise to His One True Love Whitney Houston When She Didn’t Want Madonna Level Hate in Hollywood

Kevin Costner’s promise to Whitney Houston helped her overcome her fears, with the duo sharing a special bond even after The Bodyguard.

Kevin Costner might be well known for his role as John Dutton in the Yellowstone universe.

But years before that, he got on board The Bodyguard which established his everlasting friendship with legendary singer Whitney Houston.

This movie released in 1992 was her acting debut project and turned out to be a huge success with her soundtrack I Will Always Love You becoming a global sensation.

Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner in a still from The Bodyguard | Credits: Warner Bros.

However, given that she was a big name in the music industry, she had reservations before saying yes to the movie.

Not only that, she also didn’t want to get the level of hate that pop icon Madonna got when she participated in A Certain Sacrifice released in 1985.

Kevin Costner helped Whitney Houston overcome her Hollywood fears

Whitney Houston can easily be one of the most celebrated singers in the history of music, adored for her powerful voice and remarkable stage presence.

But when the opportunity to star in The Bodyguard came along, Houston had her reservations for the same as acting was a completely new territory for her.

Whitney Houston in a still from The Bodyguard | Credits: Warner Bros.

She also feared the harsh criticism that pop stars faced when they transitioned into acting.

The most notable example of this was singer Madonna who faced a lot of backlash for her acting skills in A Certain Sacrifice released in 1985.

On the same, Houston added via Smooth Radio “People would dog me before they gave me the opportunity to do the job.”

In this, she also partnered with Kevin Costner, who was also the producer for the project, and it was his decision to cast the singer for the role of Rachel Marron.

He added,

I saw her like every red-blooded male would see her.

I thought she was really pretty.

However, it wasn’t just her beauty that convinced him, but he believed she was the perfect choice for the role.

But given her skepticism, the singer delayed saying yes to the project, so Costner took matters into his own hands.

He called her directly and said “I will not let you fall.

I will help you” which was enough for Whitney Houston to accept the role.

Evidently given her acting skills and chemistry with Costner the movie was a huge hit when it was released in 1992.

This collaboration also formed a great friendship between the duo, and he even stepped in when she faced personal struggles.

When she tragically passed away in 2002, Kevin Costner delivered a heartfelt eulogy.

Madonna detailed what went wrong with her acting career

With her bold stage presence and hit songs, Madonna has an undeniable impact on the music industry.

Hailed as one of the most successful pop stars of all time, she sought to expand her presence by diving into the world of acting.

But her journey for the same wasn’t as smooth, and the public’s reaction to her projects was not as welcoming as she had hoped.

Madonna on the poster of A Certain Sacrifice | Credits: Vidimax Home

In the 1980s, she ventured into Hollywood with first acting roles in A Certain Sacrifice and Vision Quest.

While she played a singer in the latter, the movies did nothing for her acting career.

Over the years she participated in several movies such as Shanghai Surprise, Dick Tracy, and Body of Evidence.

But none of these performances managed to bring in the same level of success she experienced in music.

But amid all the failures, she did achieve a significant acting milestone when her 1996 movie Evita became a critical and commercial success.

It earned $141 million worldwide and also earned her several prestigious award nominations, including her first Golden Globe nomination.

But despite this, her acting career didn’t gain the required momentum.

She reflected on the same via an interview adding “I’ve been a failure so far.

And the reason is that I simply haven’t put a lot of thought into it.”

While she did not have the same success in Hollywood, there’s no denying that she is a powerhouse to be reckoned with in the music industry.

You can rent The Bodyguard on Amazon Video and Apple TV.