Kevin Costner is sharing honest thoughts about how the holiday season feels different this year, opening up shortly after his ex-wife Christine Baumgartner remarried. In a new interview with Us Weekly, the 70-year-old actor admitted he is still adjusting to life as a single father and misses the moments that once defined his family’s celebrations.
“I’m a bachelor, so I kind of miss those, like, really cute things to do, you know, so I have to work especially hard to make sure there’s that stuff that [my seven children] think about and remember,” Costner said. He explained that when his kids were younger, traditions came easily.
“When they were younger, there were things that were more repetitive.” Now, he said, coordinating holidays is more challenging. “Now you’re just fighting to get them home from college or fight… You know what I mean? Just getting together! So, I do the best I can to make it as warm as I can.”
Costner has been more reflective in recent weeks, both in interviews and through his work. On November 12, he released the music video for his 2024 single Find Your Way and used the moment to speak directly to fans about the emotional weight that often accompanies the holidays.
In the video caption, he wrote that he knows “all too well how hard the holidays can be for a lot of us,” even though “it’s supposed to be the happiest time of year.” He acknowledged the mix of grief and joy that many experience during the season. “Missing loved ones we’ve lost, finding it hard to be joyful when your world feels heavy, maybe even facing tragic loss while the world around you is celebrating,” he wrote.
Costner said he hopes the song offers comfort to anyone struggling. “If you’re feeling closer to the darkness than the light this year, this song is our prayer for you.”
The actor finalized his divorce from Baumgartner in 2024 after nearly 19 years of marriage. As part of the settlement, he agreed to pay $63,000 per month in support for their three children. With his family evolving and his personal life shifting, Costner appears focused on creating warmth and stability wherever he can, even as he adapts to a new chapter.