Kevin Costner Reveals How Storytelling Helped Him Survive Divorce

Kevin Costner is finding peace through the power of storytelling.

The Oscar-winning actor, filmmaker, and father of seven has endured one of the most emotionally challenging years of his life, but he’s channeling that pain into something meaningful.

Speaking at a recent gala, the "Yellowstone" alum opened up about how stories can heal, inspire, and remind us of who we want to become, even in the face of heartbreak.

For Kevin Costner, storytelling isn’t just a profession. It is also therapy.

The actor reflected on the emotional strength that comes from sharing and experiencing stories while attending The Art of Elysium Presents Lee Daniels’ Vision of Heaven Gala in Montecito, California.

“I think storytelling can be healing. It can be informative. It can remind us of who we think we’d like to be,” Costner told Us Weekly.

He explained that the power of film and narrative often lies in the small, heroic moments that mirror real life.

“A lot of times you see great heroism on the screen, sometimes even in the smallest way,” he continued. “And when we see it, we recognize it, and we think to ourselves, I need to be like that. We know what the opposite is. But sometimes we see things in movies that we wish we would have said that we still can.”

The event, hosted by The Art of Elysium, a nonprofit dedicated to healing through the arts, aligned perfectly with Costner’s philosophy.

For a man whose life has been under the public microscope for decades, the idea that storytelling can be both personal and restorative clearly resonated.

As the holiday season approaches, Costner’s life looks a little different these days.

Following his divorce from ex-wife Christine Baumgartner, the actor is embracing a new rhythm, one focused on family and connection.

“I think when they were younger, there were things that were more repetitive,” the "Dances With Wolves" star said of his children. “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 shares three children, Cayden, 18, Hayes, 16, and Grace, 15, with Baumgartner, 51.

He’s also a father to Annie, 41, Lily, 39, and Joe, 37, from his first marriage to Cindy Silva, as well as Liam, 28, from a brief relationship with Bridget Rooney.

While his home may be quieter these days, his heart remains full.

The holidays will feel a little different for Costner this year, as he adjusts to life as a single man once more.

The actor admitted he is nostalgic for the small joys that came with family traditions.

“And 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 they think about and remember,” he said.

His words carry the tenderness of a father determined to preserve the magic of the holidays for his children, even amid personal change.

Baumgartner filed for divorce in May 2023 after nearly 19 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.

The former couple finalized their divorce in February 2024 after reaching a settlement that included joint custody of their children.

Costner was ordered to pay more than $63,000 a month in child support.

Despite the challenges, the "Field of Dreams" star has remained grounded, focusing on what matters most: his kids.

“It’s really about the children,” he told PEOPLE in June 2024. “You just do it. You just keep talking, you keep coaching [the kids], you keep interested in what they’re interested in.”

In the months following his split, Kevin Costner has quietly stepped back into the dating world.

In August, sources confirmed that he was seeing director and author Kelly Noonan Gores.

“They are hanging out casually and were connected by friends,” one insider revealed. “They have been getting to know each other and seeing each other casually when they can.”

While Costner hasn’t publicly commented on the relationship, his romantic life has continued to draw attention.

In addition to Gores, he has also been linked to "Mad Men" alum January Jones, Oscar nominee Sharon Stone, and singer-songwriter Jewel.

Meanwhile, Baumgartner has moved on as well.

She became engaged to financier Josh Connor in January, and the two married in October at the Santa Ynez Ranch in Santa Barbara, California.