Just months after his ex-wife Christina Baumgartner he walked down the aisle with his former friend Josh Connor, Kevin Costner finds himself at the center of a very different story.
The actor has become one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors, regularly sparking romance rumors when he is spotted with a new partner.
But behind the headlines, friends say Costner is not chasing attention or trying to prove anything. Instead, the Oscar winner remains something much less expected: a romantic who still believes that love is worth the risk.
Kevin Costner’s Dating Life Keeps Adding New Romance Rumors
For someone who is supposed to take things slow, Kevin Costner has certainly kept the rumor mills busy. Earlier this month, the 71-year-old was spotted in Santa Barbara with lifestyle coach Jennifer Milburn.
Witnesses described the couple as “extremely affectionate” as they loaded groceries into a cart filled with everything from steaks and vegetables to cereal and grapefruit juice.
The sighting came just weeks after Costner was linked to lifestyle influencer McKenna Wesley, who was first spotted with him at a screening of “Field of Dreams” in Arizona.
These names are just the latest additions to a growing list that has also included Sharon Stone, Jewel, Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Noonan Gores, January Jones, and Brooks Nader.
Despite the speculation, a source close to the “Yellowstone” star insists that the rumor about his love life has died down.
“He’s had several women since his divorce,” the source told him Daily Mailadding that Costner “isn’t into trophy girlfriends in their 20s like a lot of Hollywood men his age are.”
Instead, friends describe him as an old-fashioned gentleman who likes to meet people but is in no rush to celebrate anything.
Costner’s painful divorce changed the way he views relationships
The attention surrounding Kevin Costner’s relationship life comes largely from how public and emotional his divorce became.
For years, it seemed that he and Christine Baumgartner built the kind of Hollywood marriage that could survive anything. They shared three children, a sprawling home in California, and more than two decades together.
Then came the divorce filing in 2023. What followed was a long and very public battle over finances, child support and property.
Court filings revealed a private disagreement, and both sides faced intense media scrutiny.
Friends say the breakup hit Costner particularly hard because he never saw it coming.
The end of the marriage also coincided with major changes in his career. After helping turn “Yellowstone” into one of television’s biggest hits, Costner left the series in 2024 amid reports of scheduling conflicts and creative disagreements.
By the time the divorce was finalized, his personal and professional life had entered entirely new chapters.
Kevin Costner still believes that the right person could change everything
Perhaps the most surprising part of Costner’s story isn’t the women he’s been linked to. The truth is he didn’t give up.
According to those closest to him, the Hollywood star sees things differently. “He’s always looking for love,” a source explained.
The insider said Costner remains convinced that the next relationship could be different from the previous ones. According to them, “He still believes in romance.”
That belief is why friends aren’t surprised to see him carry on, even after everything he’s been through.
“So, going around and seeing if he can find someone he can spark with is always attractive,” the source said, noting, “He’s having fun dating, but he would get married again.”
More From The Blast
Costner’s ex-wife embraces a new life after finding love again
While friends say that Kevin Costner still believes that the right woman could finally take him back down the aisle, his ex-wife has entered a very different chapter.
Less than two years after finalizing her divorce from the actor, Christine Baumgartner officially married financier Josh Connor in an intimate ceremony at Santa Ynez Ranch in Santa Barbara.
As reported by The Blast, the wedding took place on October 18, 2025, at a private vineyard near where Baumgartner grew up.
More than 100 family members and friends attended the sunset ceremony, including children from both sides of the newly blended family.
The guests said the event was very personal rather than rude. One attendee said PEOPLE“It was really magical. The setting was gorgeous, but what made it special was the intimacy. This wasn’t a big production. It was real, heartfelt, and so real to them.”
Kevin Costner And Christine Baumgartner Reunite For Son’s Volleyball Tournament
As Baumgartner settled into married life with Connor, she and Costner recently found themselves back in the same place for a far more familiar reason: supporting one of their children.
The Blast reported that the former couple attended son Hayes’ beach volleyball tournament in Santa Barbara, California, where photographers caught them watching from the sidelines.
Despite standing in sight of each other during the event, Costner and Baumgartner seemed to keep a visible distance and were not seen interacting. According to the report, the two were still focused on the competition rather than communicating with each other.
Costner adopted his usual California-casual style for the trip, wearing a white T-shirt and matching pants, flip flops, and sunglasses.
Baumgartner opted for her own relaxed look, pairing a green T-shirt with loose white jeans and a green baseball cap.
The appearance marked one of the few times the former spouses have been photographed at the same event since they finalized their divorce in February 2024.