Kevin Costner Finally Shuts Down Singer Jewel Romance Rumors

The “Yellowstone” actor recently addressed the viral speculations about a possible romance with the 50-year-old singer-songwriter. While fans happily shipped them as a couple, the entertainer claims there are fireworks between them.

Kevin Costner sparked romance rumors with Jewel last year after the pair were photographed cozying up on a private island.

Costner cleared up the dating rumors on his latest appearance on “The Howard Stern Show,” confessing that he did not address the matter sooner because he wished to preserve the pair’s friendship. In his words:

“Jewel and I are friends — we’ve never gone out. She’s special, and I don’t want these rumors to ruin our friendship because that’s what we have.”

Costner and Jewel made waves last November when the “Foolish Games” singer shared pictures from her annual tennis fundraiser on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island. The snaps included a group picture that featured guests, including the actor, all dressed in white.

However, this group picture did not spark the romance rumors as the pair weren’t together. Instead, a snap shared by sources captured Costner cozying up to Jewel as she spoke into a microphone, looking very much like a doting couple.

Despite giving off romantic vibes in the viral picture, Costner claimed he met Jewel for the first time on the trip to Branson’s island. “I got on a plane with nine people — Jewel was one of them. She was somebody I just had some tremendous conversations with,” he explained.

The 69-year-old doubled down on his desire to preserve his friendship with Jewel, saying, “I don’t want the press to ruin this for us. Because I’ve had conversations with her, text-wise, and she’s so smart, and she’s been through a lot herself.”

“We have a friendship, we don’t have a romance, and we’ve never dated,” Costner continued. He seemingly hinted that there was hope for a romance between them, noting they hadn’t found the right spark yet.

“She’s beautiful and smart enough for all those things, but it just has never happened for us,” Coster raved about Jewel. “She’s everything you might think, but it hasn’t happened.”

Last year, The Blast reported that insiders claimed Costner might have found a new flame after finalizing his contentious divorce from ex-wife Christine Baumgartner.

His appearance on Branson’s island with Jewel sparked interesting observations, with one source noting: “There was definitely something going on. They were flirty, and when they were together, it was like they both just lit up.”

Another asserted, “You could tell they were trying to be discreet, but anybody who saw them could tell something was going on.”

The blossoming romance claims didn’t end there, as informants further alleged the pair teamed up for doubles with Sir Richard during the fundraiser.

According to sources, Costner and Jewel traveled to the Caribbean together, where they spent more than a week in each other’s company. The pair also flew back together, with one insider claiming the singer-songwriter “wants a good man, and Kevin fits the bill.”

News of Costner and Jewel’s speculated romance came two months after he finalized his divorce from Baumgartner. The actor and his second ex-wife reportedly ended things on a sour note despite previous claims of a “friends with benefits” arrangement.

A source close to Baumgartner refuted the “friends with benefits” rumors, stating the pair were not on amicable terms. “First off, they barely speak to each other, and secondly, she’s moved on,” the insider stressed.

In November, The Blast shared that “Yellowstone” fans could rejoice as Costner would continue his role as John Dutton in the beloved drama series. The actor was rumored to be exiting the show in its fifth season over a scheduling conflict with the Western movie “Horizon.”

Sources claimed Costner allegedly wished to focus on shooting scenes for the two-part movie, which would have negatively impacted his appearance on the Paramount series.

Fortunately, “Yellowstone” production could not continue because of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.

The suspension of all production activities was a blessing in disguise for Costner as the final episodes of “Yellowstone” were rescheduled to air in November 2024, thereby resolving his clashing commitments to the Paramount series and the “Horizon” movie.