Kevin Costner says his eulogy to Whitney Houston defied CNN

At Whitney Houston’s funeral in 2012, broadcast live on CNN, Kevin Costner delivered a 17-minute eulogy. But if the network had its way, his remarks would have been much shorter, the “Yellowstone” actor says.

Costner, who co-starred with Houston in the 1992 romantic thriller “The Bodyguard,” was one of eight speakers at the famous singer’s funeral. He was initially hesitant to accept the invitation to speak, but with encouragement from Houston’s aunt, singer Dionne Warwick, he changed his mind.

With the help of a friend, he told “Armchair Expert” podcast hosts Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, “I tried to compile everything I wanted to do and finally wrote this speech. » Then the network was almost derailed.

“Someone said, ‘CNN is here, they wouldn’t mind if your remarks were shorter because they’re going to have commercials.’ And I said, “They can get over it.”

CNN did not immediately respond Wednesday to The Times’ request for comment.

Costner’s refusal was rooted in a protectiveness toward Houston that he described adopting during the early days of filming “The Bodyguard.”

“I realized the world had a higher idea of ​​who we were, so I basically embraced it. I was his imaginary bodyguard,” he said. “I started mentoring her, and I wasn’t trying to usurp my director. But I made him a promise.

Costner said he promised Houston – and her mentor Clive Davis – that the film would be a success and that she would shine in it. He was right.

Despite a Times review calling Costner’s character “joylessly morose,” “The Bodyguard” grossed nearly $122 million domestically, according to Box office mojoand Houston’s cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” received numerous awards, including Record of the Year. Grammy. The collection of 13 songs from the film remains the best-selling film soundtrack of all time.

“That was my promise to her,” Costner said. “She will always love me in song. I was always going to keep my promise to her.

Costner and Houston remained friends until the singer’s death at the age of 48, following an accidental drowning at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

“I praised him and I didn’t mean to,” the actor-director said Monday. “When she passed away, there was a steady drumbeat to be heard. »