New Chapter: Kevin Costner Focused on Himself After Divorce

Kevin CostnerJason Kempin/Getty Images.

Now that Kevin Costner‘s divorce from Christine Baumgartner is settled, the 69-year-old actor is in a fresh phase of his life. The contentious split from his wife of 18 years is probably not how he wanted to spend most of his 2023, but he’s learned that there are good things ahead of him — particularly when it comes to his romance with singer, Jewel.

“As difficult as Kevin’s divorce was, it hasn’t robbed Kevin of his positive outlook,” an insider shared with Closer magazine. “He’s back to doing the work he loves, and Jewel has been a beautiful surprise.” The 49-year-old musician has opened the Oscar winner’s heart again and “he’s even starting to think he might be open to getting married again.” The couple was first spotted engaging in some light PDA during a charity fundraiser on Richard Branson’s Necker Island last December.

Singer Jewel attends a screening of Garry Marshall’s film, “Valentines Day.”Amy Graves/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images

The source seems to think that even though Costner wasn’t “expecting to find someone so soon,” Jewel has been a breath of fresh air in his life. “Christine was all about having the best of everything, but Jewel isn’t into fancy clothes or jewelry,” they noted. While the marriage rumors between Costner and Jewel are certainly circulating, his close friends are reportedly telling him to take the relationship “slowly.” They are all thrilled that he’s “happy,” but after the “torturous end” to his marriage to Baumgartner, they just want the best for Costner.

Costner’s split from his ex-wife became a tabloid frenzy after she tried to contest the prenuptial agreement she signed ahead of their 2004 wedding. The Yellowstone actor also believed that she was engaged in an affair with her now-boyfriend, and their former neighbor, Josh Connor. Costner “had strong suspicions that something was going on between Christine and Josh” with an Us Weekly source describing their “close bond” as “a real elephant in the room” during their divorce. Baumgartner has denied the infidelity allegations lodged by Costner’s camp.

Now that they have gone their separate ways, Costner is free to focus on co-parenting their three children, Cayden, 16, Hayes, 15, and Grace, 13, while getting ready for the first two parts of his four-part movie franchise, Horizon: An American Saga, to be released this summer. It’s a new chapter for Costner, who is happy to put the events of the last year behind him.