Kevin Costner opened up about his unlikely friendship with Whitney Houston, admitting he loved the legendary singer before her untimely passing.

Costner shared heartfelt recollections of working with Whitney on the set of their 1992 blockbuster, The Bodyguard.

“I loved her — it’s not like this giant mystery — so I knew that she should be the one,” he said during the Monday episode of the Armchair Expert podcast.

Costner Protected Whitney On ‘The Bodyguard’

Costner recounted that director Mick Jackson felt intimidated by Houston, prompting Costner to step in and guide the singer-turned-actress. He advised her, “not to bring an entourage” during filming.

“And I wasn’t trying to usurp my director, but I had made a promise to her, not to f—ing him,” Costner explained. As both actor and producer of the film, he reassured Houston that the movie would succeed at the box office, despite disappointing test screenings. “I was always gonna keep my promise to her,” he emphasized.

Whitney and Kevin first became acquainted while working on the romantic thriller. Costner played Frank Farmer, a former Secret Service agent hired to protect Houston’s character, Rachel Marron, a famous singer facing death threats. Their on-screen chemistry and the film’s success helped solidify their bond.

Costner was instrumental in casting Houston, believing in her potential to transition from a music superstar to a credible actress despite her lack of acting experience. The Bodyguard was Houston’s film debut and became iconic, largely due to its soundtrack, including Houston’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You,” which became one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Their professional relationship was marked by mutual respect and admiration, which continued until Houston’s untimely death.

Why Costner Refused To Cut Whitney’s Eulogy Short

In another part of the podcast, Costner reflected on the time he refused to shorten Houston’s eulogy after her death at age 48 in 2012. He recalled being asked to cut his remarks for the sake of CNN’s commercial schedule.

Costner firmly responded, “Somebody said, ‘CNN’s here, they wouldn’t mind if your remarks were kept shorter because they’re going to have commercials.’ And I said, ‘They can get over that. They can play the commercial while I’m talking, I don’t care.’”

During Whitney’s 2012 death, she was found submerged in the bathtub of her suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, just hours before she was scheduled to attend a pre-Grammy Awards party. The official cause of death was accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors.

Her sudden death shocked the world, leading to an outpouring of grief from fans and celebrities alike.

Houston is best known for her incredible vocal range and emotive performances, with iconic hits such as “I Will Always Love You,” “Greatest Love of All,” and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” She also made her mark in Hollywood, with The Bodyguard becoming one of her best known films.

Houston’s legacy is marked by her groundbreaking achievements in music and film, as well as her struggles with addiction, which ultimately overshadowed her later years. It’s clear those close to her, including Costner, have fond memories.