“Kevin Costner Stands Firm on Whitney Houston’s 17-Minute Eulogy: ‘I Was Her Imaginary Bodyguard’”

Kevin Costner recently reflected on his enduring friendship with Whitney Houston, over 30 years after they starred in “The Bodyguard.” Speaking on the “Armchair Expert” podcast, he shared insights about his heartfelt eulogy for the late singer, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 48. Costner insisted that his tribute, which lasted 17 minutes, would not be cut short.

As both the star and producer of the 1992 film, Costner recounted how he first saw Houston perform on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and felt she was perfect for the role of a singer facing a stalker. Although director Mick Jackson had reservations about casting her, Costner championed Houston, saying, “She was my choice. I was the actor. I produced it. I picked her.”

He remembered telling Houston that she couldn’t have an entourage on set but promised to take care of her. “We had a moment, and I realized the world had a higher idea of who we were, so I embraced it. I was her imaginary bodyguard,” he said. As someone already recognized as a powerful singer, Houston trusted Costner, who aimed to guide her without undermining the director.

Costner vowed to Houston and producer Clive Davis that the film would succeed, fighting to retain key scenes. “The Bodyguard” ultimately grossed nearly $122 million, and Houston’s rendition of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” won multiple awards, including a Grammy for Record of the Year. “That was my promise to her,” Costner emphasized. “She’s always gonna love me in the song. I was always gonna keep my promise to her.”

Their friendship lasted until Houston’s tragic death from accidental drowning, which followed years of struggles with substance abuse. Costner recalled that he didn’t realize she was suffering.

When Houston’s aunt, singer Dionne Warwick, asked him to speak at her memorial, Costner was initially reluctant. He spent a week crafting his speech, and while he felt an electric atmosphere at the church, he doubted whether he was the right person for the task. Ultimately, he decided to go through with it.

However, the eulogy almost faced a setback when he learned that CNN, broadcasting the service, wanted speakers to keep their remarks brief due to commercial breaks. Costner firmly stated, “They can get over that. They can play the commercial while I’m talking. I didn’t come here to say just two minutes.” In the end, he delivered a 17-minute eulogy, saying, “That I felt I needed to say.”