Selena Quintanilla’s path to stardom was steady, and once she gained momentum, she appeared to be an unstoppable force in music. Tragically, her life and career were cut short when Yolanda Saldivar, the president of her fan club, killed her in 1995. Despite the numerous accounts of Selena’s life and career in the two decades following her death, many of these stories have excluded significant details for unknown reasons. The undisclosed facts are much more intriguing. Did Selena have a massive undisclosed secret before she passed away, or was she just an exceptional talent who died too soon? Let’s find out.
Fighting Upstream
Although Selena Quintanilla is considered as one of the most prosperous Latina musicians in history, her journey towards fame was a challenging one.
Initially, people had doubts about her ability to establish herself as a woman in the Tejano music industry, which was predominantly dominated by male artists. Tejano music is also known as Tex-Mex music. The idea of a woman being a popular music artist seemed implausible, but it turned out to be incorrect.
Under Papa’s Nose
Selena, at the age of 21 in 1992, secretly married her guitarist Chris Perez after being prohibited by her father to continue their relationship despite having displayed public affection before.
Selena and her partner chose to wed privately, hoping that her father might be more approving of their relationship if they were married. Unfortunately, their strategy failed as the media revealed the news of their wedding, causing Selena to become alienated from her father for a period.
Stealing Away in the Night
Selena’s biographer made a revealing disclosure, years after her death, which suggested that Selena was contemplating to elope with her physician at the time of her demise, as some people had suspected.
The assertion is based on the discovery of a suitcase in her hotel room containing her attire and a work permit for Mexico. Despite Ricardo Martinez’s insistence of a romantic involvement with her, Selena’s family refutes the statement as untrue.
Her Way or the Highway
In the brief period that Selena was in the limelight, she not only established a successful music profession but also cultivated a career in the fashion industry. She possessed various fashion stores across Texas before her unfortunate demise.
Nonetheless, it appears that her conduct in running the business was sometimes inadequate. One of the accusations that surfaced against her was that she would randomly dismiss staff members who she had a personal distaste for. It’s been suggested that this action could have played a role in her demise.
From Queen to Queen
When Selena was starting out in her profession, she encountered a young lady at a Houston concert. Observing the poised and self-assured Selena definitely had an influence on the Texan lady, who we now refer to by her first name alone: Beyonce.
Beyonce expressed the significant influence Selena had on her during her early years. Additionally, she shared that she was in awe of meeting Selena, even before Selena became incredibly famous.
From Rags to Riches
Selena’s story was very inspiring to her followers due to the fact that she originated from a modest background. Her family went bankrupt during the early 1980s financial slump after their restaurant went out of business.
Selena’s father aimed to enhance their financial situation and would frequently visit the grocery store during nighttime hours to avoid drawing attention to their dependence on food stamps for sustenance.
Up-Routed
Following Selena’s passing, Corpus Christi, her place of birth in Texas, aimed to dedicate a street to the beloved musician. Nevertheless, the urban planners swiftly identified an obstacle in their proposal.
Yolanda was the name of a street that intersected with the road named Selena, the same name as the woman who murdered Selena. The governmental authorities realized the plan was not feasible, resulting in the cancellation of the effort. Nonetheless, alternative means were employed to honor her.
English First
Even though Selena is famous for her music in Spanish, her native language is actually English since she was born and raised in Texas. So, when she began performing Tejano music, she had to rely on phonetic spellings to correctly pronounce the Spanish words.
Despite becoming proficient in the language, it was still evident that she was speaking it as her second language. Nonetheless, her appeal among the Latino community in America remained unaltered, and she even managed to establish herself in Mexico.
Selena and Scarlett
In the process of producing the Selena biopic in 1997, a nationwide search was initiated to locate an actress with the necessary abilities to convincingly portray Selena in the film.
A large number of young and optimistic individuals attended an audition in search of Selena, making it the second most attended casting of all time. Ultimately, more than 21,000 actresses tried out for the part. The only casting with a higher attendance was the one conducted for Scarlett O’Hara.
Throwing Til It Stuck
Yolanda Saldivar held multiple roles in relation to Selena. Apart from being the person who killed Selena, she was also the president of Selena’s fan club. Establishing the fan club was a difficult task for Yolanda, as she needed to persuade Selena’s father Abraham to approve her idea.
Saldivar yielded to the idea of creating a fan club after approximately 15 phone calls from her. Despite his initial reluctance, she managed to persuade him that an official fan club would boost her career. Looking back, it’s possible that he should have stuck to his original decision.
Closing in Tight
Salvidar’s efforts to establish the sanctioned Selena fan club resulted in the family not delving too deeply into her history. Instead, the family grew closer to her, causing them to disregard the fact that she had embezzled over $9,000 from a prior employer.
Yolanda’s misconduct was not a mere isolated incident. Just before she murdered the singer, the Quintanillas found out that Yolanda had committed fraud by taking around $30,000 from supporters who had requested original Selena merchandise.
More Than Finances
Dr. Ricardo Martinez initially established a professional relationship with Selena as a financial advisor. However, he soon gained her trust and became someone she could confide in. Recently, there have been rumors suggesting that Martinez may have also provided medical care to Selena.
He has asserted that he could have carried out liposuction on the star, but considering her young age, it’s quite likely that the gossip is entirely unfounded.
Just Like Madonna
Despite the great difference in their musical styles, Selena was frequently referred to as the Mexican Madonna during the height of her career. Selena’s fashion choices for her live performances played a significant part in earning her the moniker.
She had a habit of adding more beads and sequins to ordinary lingerie to create unique pieces. They both had the same level of significance in their respective genres, but Selena was the one who achieved a greater accomplishment by tearing down barriers.
Rotting on the Inside
When the Quintanillas finally recognized that there was a severe issue with Yolanda, she had already become an integral part of their company operations and a trusted friend to the family.
Not only did they discover her misdeeds, but it appears that Yolanda’s brother, Armando, was the one to bring attention to them. Prior to the Quintanillas being informed, he informed the designer who worked on Selena’s boutique line about his sister’s actions.
The Eggs in Her Basket
Selena amassed a unique assortment of objects that was influenced by her celebrity status, reminiscent of the defunct Russian monarchy. Her penchant for collecting Faberge eggs became a habit, and when she passed away, she had accumulated more than 500 of these adorned eggs.
Selena didn’t reserve these precious items for rare events; instead, she showcased them in her living room at all times. Following her passing, the items were relocated to a museum and presented in the same manner that Selena had preserved them.
One Bathroom to Spare
Selena’s family went through extreme poverty, and for a while, they had to accommodate approximately 13 individuals in their home. Despite sounding like a dreadful situation, there was one factor that worsened the living conditions.
There was just a single bathroom in the house which had to be shared by all residents. Selena and her siblings’ music venture was what helped them achieve financial stability once again.
Big Bertha
When the Quintanilla siblings achieved a certain level of success as a musical group, their father had to find a means of arranging their tours. As they started to earn more profits, he purchased a bus and redesigned it to serve as their tour bus.
Despite the renovations, the bus, which they nicknamed Big Bertha, was not a comfortable or luxurious place to reside in. It lacked basic amenities such as heating, air conditioning, running water, and a bathroom.
Forever in Memory
Chris Perez, Selena’s spouse, still experiences distress due to the memories of his departed wife. He composed a memoir in honor of her memory some years ago.
Perez had initially planned to create a television series depicting Selena’s life using his memoir, but he found himself embroiled in a legal dispute with her father. Despite attempting to challenge the initial decision, Perez ultimately lost both cases, as the Quintanillas hold exclusive rights to all media representations of Selena.
South of the Border
Selena was on the brink of completing the process of buying a house in Mexico shortly before her demise. While her rising fame in Mexico had started to gain media attention, her relationship with the country was primarily rooted in her ancestral heritage.
As her popularity increased, she appeared to have a desire to form stronger connections with her home country, especially with the increasing number of Mexican supporters she gained. Unfortunately, her plans were disrupted by her untimely demise.
Oh My Jehovah
Mexico may be a Catholic nation, but somehow the Quintanilla family became Jehovah’s Witnesses at some point after arriving in the United States.
The young Selena was raised in the faith, which definitely affected the kind of music she chose to sing. At the same time, it was Selena and her siblings’ music career that was keeping food on their table, even though some saw the demands of the career as inappropriate for a girl as young as Selena was.
Refusing Entry
Selena chose to begin singing Tejano music at the suggestion of her father, who wanted her to show off her roots as she built her stage persona.
However, many of the Tejano music venues scattered about Texas refused to let the band play at all. Some cited the kids’ ages as the deciding factor, but given that Selena was their front woman, the entire Quintanilla family knew it was simply because they weren’t used to a woman singing that kind of music.
Pregnancy Rumors
In 2006, Selena’s killer gave a rare interview from behind bars. She was further questioned on the dismissed rumors that Selena was pregnant when she shot her.
According to this friend-turned-killer, she had promised Selena she would “take this secret to the grave.” She added, “People that don’t want to know the personal life of Selena, and only care about the celebrity aspect, are not doing her any justice because she suffered a lot.”
Weight of Expectation
While we assume that Selena was a happy star, according to her fan and killer, she was struggling. She said that fans did not know the same Selena as she did.
She saw a woman who was struggling with the weight of expectation on her shoulders, personally and professionally. “The public believes that Selena was always so happy and cheerful but she wasn’t,” she revealed. “I saw her cry.” The information was new to husband, Chris Perez.
Father Disapproval
Back in 1992, Selena married Chris Perez, the latest member of her band “Los Dinos.” It did not take long for the Tejano star and Perez to fall in love, despite disapproval from her father.
According to Chris, “the main reason for that was it kind of hurt his pride and his ego to find out that he was the last to know.” The worst part for Chris was when Selena’s father said that he was “like a cancer to his family.”
A Secret Wedding
Nevertheless, Selena Quintanilla and Chris Perez went ahead and married in a very personal and private ceremony.
Pictures were never released of the celebration and many would continuously speculate on what her wedding dress looked like or how the day was decorated… until now. Never before seen photos of the day have been released. One photo shows Selena walking down the aisle in her short white dress and another shows herself with her parents and her new husband.
Stay in School
To Selena, education was important. It was important to her to promote to her fans and the world that education is everything.
She was once quoted saying, “Music is not a very stable business. You know it comes and it goes, and so does money. But your education stays with you for the rest of your life.” In November 1994, Selena introduced an educational video for students at Cunningham Middle School, in which she talks about the importance of staying in school.
Training With Soul
Abraham Quintanilla may have recognized Selena’s talent when she was as young as six, but that didn’t mean he could spare the change to pay for her performance training.
Selena’s inherent talent made her success even more impressive, but she did share that she picked up some of her moves from television. One of her favorite shows was Soul Train, which she used as an inspiration for much of her choreography in the early years of her performance career.
A Life in Hindsight
Selena’s life was well-preserved in the 1997 biopic that starred Jennifer Lopez in her first major acting role. However, more than 20 years later, Netflix is working on a new television show that details the story of Selena’s tragically short life with the help of her surviving family members.
In the meantime, a Mexican series was released in September 2018 that promised to reveal secrets about her life that had never been heard before. Her family, naturally, did not approve.
It’s been a wild ride for Kevin Costner. After going through a rough divorce right when his career was taking off, the Dances with Wolves actor spent years trying to find that one special someone. After countless ups and downs, has he finally settled down?
A Changed Man
In a 2007 interview with Good Housekeeping, Costner stated that he has “always been really close to my girls,” making it clear, however, that he doesn’t pick favorites. “All of my kids are showered with love,” explained Costner. Who would have thought that the man who once embraced a wild Hollywood single-guy lifestyle would have such a knack for fatherhood? These days, Costner would much rather brag about his kids’ accomplishments than engage in the shenanigans of his younger years.
His First Love
Kevin Costner first met Cindy Silva while the two were college students attending California State University at Fullerton. “She was beautiful, she was sweet, she was smarter than me,” said Costner in a 1989 interview. “She represented everything about women that I like.” Costner and Cindy tied the knot in 1978. For several years, the newlyweds were happy together and even had three kids together – Annie, Lily, and Joe. Unfortunately, their relationship wouldn’t stay this way for very long.
Calling It Quits
Not long after Silva worked together with Costner on his critically-acclaimed film Dances With Wolves, rumors began to emerge regarding infidelity on Costner’s side. The two did what they could to keep their marriage afloat, but eventually decided to call it quits. In 1994, Cindy and Kevin announced their divorce in a statement which read, “After 16 years together, we are ending our marriage. We have amicably resolved all issues regarding our children and financial affairs and a full marital settlement has been reached.”
Savoring The Single Life
Costner spent most of the ’90s enjoying the single life, dating girl after girl with little time in between, ultimately earning himself a reputation as an A-list womanizer. Now, however, it seems that the Hollywood actor has changed his ways. Has he finally settled down?
A Lone Wolf
Many fans were shocked to learn that Costner’s marriage was coming to an end, but to friends and coworkers, the divorce was no surprise. “I have a big thirst. A big taste for things…. I hate the fact that I’ve lived by somebody else’s rules and I’ve somehow missed out on something,” said Costner in an interview in 1987. Looking back now, it’s easy to see that the Dances With Wolves actor was hinting that his marriage with Cindy had gone sour.
A Taste Of What Was To Come
For some celebrities, fame comes at a price. Just before going public with the divorce, Costner opened up in an interview with the Daily News. “The temptations are pretty strong—and there’s a hungry world out there waiting for you to fall. So you can’t even dabble without paying a huge price. I try to conduct my life with a certain amount of dignity and discretion—but marriage is a hard, hard gig.” Costner’s love life would only become more complicated with time.
A Secret Scandal
Coming off his divorce, Costner had a brief fling with a woman named Bridget Rooney. Rooney is known for being a member of the family that owns and operates the Pittsburgh Steelers NFL franchise in addition to her 2011 movie, Zombie or Not Zombie. Their relationship was said to last from 1995 until 1996. Although Costner would have preferred to keep his affair with Rooney as quiet as possible and out of the media’s eye, a scandal would eventually surface, drastically changing his plans.
Bridget’s Secret Revealed
In 1996, Bridget Rooney gave birth to a son, and Costner’s fourth child, Liam Costner. According to reports and rumors, Costner’s relationship with his fourth child was rather strained early on. In fact, Costner only recognized that little Liam was his son after Rooney demanded he take a paternity test. Once Costner’s paternity test results came back, he opened up a trust fund for the boy. One source told People magazine that Costner visited Liam “occasionally but not on a regular basis.”
Extra-Marital Rumors
While it was never officially confirmed, Costner reportedly engaged in an extra-marital affair with Halle Berry back in 1989, while he was still married to Cindy Silva. At the time of the rumored fling, Berry had just begun her career as an actress, appearing in 12 episodes of Living Dolls. Neither Costner not Berry have commented on the rumors, but the A-list stars remain friends to this day and have been spotted together in public on various occasions.
Something In Common
Just a year after Costner’s rumored affair with Halle Berry, the Field of Dreams star came face-to-face with yet another tabloid headline regarding a brief rumored romance, this time with Michelle Pfeiffer, the actress who rose to prominence after her portrayal of Elvira Hancock in the 1983 classic film, Scarface. It turns out that Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry have something in common aside from their rumored Costner flings- they both portrayed Cat Woman at some point in their respective careers.
A Piece Of The Pie
Another woman who claims to have gone on a few dates with Costner is Bobbie Jean Brown, the actress, model, and former beauty pageant contestant most famous for being the star of Warrant’s music video for their song “Cherry Pie.” Brown revealed all the juicy details about her fling with Costner in her tell-all memoir titled “Dirty Rocker Boys: Love And Lust On The Sunset Strip.”
Kiss And Tell
Bobbie Jean Brown wasn’t the only celebrity to share some personal details about a low-key relationship with Kevin Costner. Peggy Trentini did the same in her memoir titled “Once Upon A Star: Celebrity Kiss And Tell Stories.” Trentini rose to fame as a model and actress in the 1980s and 1990s. Since releasing her book, she has left the spotlight to focus on her career in real estate.
Aphrodite Draws Him In
Back in 1993, one year before Costner finalized his divorce with Cindy Silva, he was rumored to have engaged in yet another extra-marital affair with Mira Sorvino. Sorvino is an actress who became famous after her award-winning performance in Mighty Aphrodite, a 1995 romantic comedy film directed by Woody Allen. Back when she was rumored to have gotten together with Costner, Sorvino was still a relatively unknown, with just a few film credits on her acting resume.
On The Rebound
Holly Sampson, an actress and model who also goes by the names Nicolette Foster, Andrea Michaels, and Zoe, claims that she had a brief relationship with Kevin Costner in 1994, the same year that Costner divorced his first wife. After appearing in episodes of shows like Fred Savage’s The Wonder Years, My Two Dads, Beauty and the Beast, and Matlock, Sampson went on to pursue a career as an adult actress, appearing in titles like Lady Chatterly’s Stories, Thrills, and Bedtime Stories.
Courting A Supermodel
Costner was rumored to have had a fling with Naomi Campbell at some point during the mid-1990s. Campbell started her career at the age of 15 and quickly became one of the most recognizable names and faces in the world of modeling. She has been engaged to Adam Clayton, the bassist for the band U2, as well as Flavio Briatore, a Formula One race car driver. Recently, Campbell has been rumored to be in a relationship with Louis C. Camilleri, a multimillionaire from Malta.
He Had No Alibi
Another one of Kevin Costner’s rumored flings was with Karin Reznack, an actress and screenwriter known for her work on films in the late 1980s such as Her Alibi and Clara’s Heart. Following her rumored brief relationship with Costner, Reznack would go on to marry famous film director John Byrum in the late ’90s. While no one can confirm whether Costner and Reznack truly did get together, we’re not surprised that such rumors emerged given Costner’s colorful romantic history.
Defending An Ex
In 2006, Costner found himself in the midst of a scandal after being accused of lewd behavior while receiving a massage at a five-star hotel in 2004. One of Costner’s exes, Birgit Cunningham, chimed in to publicly support him. She issued a statement, saying, “Kevin is very romantic and tender, he would never do anything so vulgar… He really is Mr. Perfect, squeaky clean, if a little naive when it comes to realizing the effect he has on girls.”
Spotted With Angie
Back in 1995, Kevin Costner was spotted on a dinner date with Angie Everhart, a former actress and model who has appeared in numerous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues in addition to a 2000 issue of Playboy magazine. Just before Costner was seen canoodling with the stunning redhead, rumors had emerged regarding his attempts to reconcile with his ex-wife Cindy. Not long after her rumored romance with Costner, Everhart tied the knot with actor, comedian, and singer-songwriter Ashley Hamilton.
A Fling With Monica
In 2001, Kevin Costner shared the big screen with Courteney Cox in the action adventure crime film 3000 Miles to Graceland. Six years prior to the film’s release, however, Costner was linked to the star most famous for her portrayal of Monica Geller in Friends for a much different reason. According to inside sources, the two briefly dated back in 1995. Interestingly enough, Cox married David Arquette, another actor who appeared in 3000 Miles to Graceland, in 1999.
He Dated The First American Supermodel
Apparently, 1995 was a busy year in the love life of Kevin Costner. In August, the Field of Dreams star was believed to have had a romantic encounter with Cheryl Tiegs, the American fashion designer and model considered to be “the first American supermodel.” That same year, Tiegs launched her “Cheryl Tiegs Sportswear” collection. She will always be best known for her multiple appearances on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, as well as TIME magazine.
Rifken Jr. Roughs Him Up
In another wild urban legend, Costner was rumored to have nearly ruined Cal Ripken Jr.’s record-breaking consecutive games streak after becoming romantically involved with Cal’s wife while staying at his home. According to the story, Costner, who has portrayed baseball players in several films and had become close friends with Ripken Jr., was caught red-handed and was roughed up by the Hall-of-Famer on the spot. Ripken was so upset over the incident that the Baltimore Orioles canceled the upcoming game due to an “electrical failure.”
He Couldn’t Escape The Spotlight
In another 1995 romance, Kevin Costner was spotted on multiple occasions hitting the town with the American journalist, author, and television host Joan Lunden. Lunden was most famous for her role co-hosting ABC’s Good Morning America between 1980 and 1997. Unfortunately, their relationship was cut short as the result of the relentless and overbearing attention from media sources. At the time, Costner was in the middle of promoting his film Waterworld, so the press was naturally curious about his personal life.
Putting The Charm On
Costner reportedly pulled out all the stops on their first date. “He got this yacht and we sailed around New York Harbor and had dinner,” said Lunden. ”It was quite romantic and quite beautiful. When he first walked on the boat and smiled at me… and said, ‘Boy, I’ve waited so long to meet you,’ I almost fell over.” Sadly, Costner’s charm wasn’t enough. “I think Kevin and I would have dated longer had it not been for the unbelievable press focus on us,” explained Lunden.
The Spark Of Hope
By 1996, it seemed as if Costner was ready to leave the single life behind and settle down in a more stable situation. That year, he started dating Australian businesswoman, television host, model, and actress Elle Macpherson. The two moved quickly in their relationship and began living together within a matter of months. “I feel I have met my equal with this beautiful, talented, funny and lovely person,” said Costner. Unfortunately, their relationship would end before the year mark.
Rebound Round Two
Just after Costner and Elle Macpherson went their separate ways, he was rumored to have been romantically tied to Carla Bruni, an Italian-French singer-songwriter and former model. As one of the world’s first supermodels, Bruni has also been known to date famous men such as Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton. While it may have appeared that Costner was ready to settle down in a serious relationship, another short fling would prove that old habits die hard…
Keeping It Low Key
In 1997, Kevin Costner was coming off two successful films. He had been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his performance in 1996’s Tin Cup, and would soon receive another nomination in the form of a Saturn Award for his 1997 film The Postman. That same year, he met news anchor and former Miss America winner Tawny Little. Their discreet relationship only lasted from 1997-1998. Little had previously dated men such as Ron Silver and Burt Reynolds.
An A-List Scandal
Kevin Costner has certainly seen his fair share of tabloid headlines. One rumor from 1999 claims that Costner had a brief romantic encounter with his co-star, Kelly Preston, while the two were working on the film For the Love of the Game. According to the National Enquirer, Travolta was “furious” over the allegations. Neither Costner nor Preston, who was married to actor John Travolta at the time, have addressed the rumors. Preston and Travolta remain happily married to this day. But things would soon change for Costner.
A One-Woman Man
Kevin Costner’s wild and unpredictable lifestyle has led him to become the subject of numerous tabloid headlines and Hollywood rumors. While he has never been shy when it comes to admitting his wrongdoings, Costner has kept quiet regarding certain aspects of his personal life. Believe it or not, before all the fame and fortune, Costner was once a one-woman man, happily married to his college sweetheart. However, with success came the temptations of being a celebrity, some of which he simply couldn’t resist…Costner confessed he tried to help Houston deal with her addiction by writing to her,”I tried to help Whitney Houston through letters” he believed by showing her how much he cares it would help.
The One?
Kevin Costner had been on a seemingly endless search for love ever since his divorce in 1994. Then, he crossed paths with Christine Baumgartner, a stunning, much younger model and handbag designer whom he’d met several years prior while practicing on a golf course for his role in Tin Cup. Costner had no idea what would transpire. “When I met Christine, I wasn’t prepared to be in love again,” says Costner. Only time would tell if the Dances With Wolves actor would change his ways…
Going Through A Rough Patch
Costner himself admitted that his love life was all over the place after his divorce from Cindy. “I was like the classic single guy — who do I love this week, who next week?” said the Dances With Wolves actor. When he began dating Christine, however, everything changed. Costner, a man who once considered himself a free spirit, had finally learned to love again. Unfortunately, Costner wasn’t quite ready to commit to having kids with Christine, and the couple briefly split up in 2002.
He Was Afraid
After being thrown back into the single life, Costner realized that breaking up with Christine was a terrible mistake. “Fear kept me from marrying Christine,” says Costner. “[She] wanted a child, but I was afraid I couldn’t be an effective father.” After dating for four years, “I woke up and thought, ‘Am I going to lose a beautiful woman who is willing to be with me to my very last breath because I am afraid to say yes to a child?’ That’s all it took.”
Taking The Plunge
Costner eventually came to his senses and returned to Christine. The couple tied the knot in September of 2004, saying “I do” in a private ceremony held at Costner’s estate in Aspen, Colorado in front of 300 close friends and family members. This would be Christine’s first marriage and Costner’s second. His new bride was hopeful that he’d stay faithful, but only time would tell if the Field of Dreams star had truly changed his ways.
A Father Once Again
Costner and Baumgartner spent the first three years of their marriage enjoying an empty nest, but in May 2007, everything changed with the birth of their first son, Cayden. Suddenly it seemed as if Costner disappeared from the spotlight. In reality, Costner was still working, but taking more time to focus on his side projects, like touring with his band and investing in a centrifuge machine. Most importantly, Costner took a break from acting in major motion pictures to focus on raising his family.
A Full House
Following the birth of Cayden in 2007, Costner and Baumgartner were blessed with two more kids- Hayes, born in 2009, and Grace, born in 2010. Costner opened up about life as a father in a 2011 interview. “…They’re really good children,” explains Costner, “and I see them making steps every day, and the one thing I pray for in life is not success but being able to raise my children and that nothing happens to me in the next 20 years.”
Turning Over A New Leaf
“I want it to be me who tells them about the secrets, the beauty, the treachery and everything that is in life. I don’t want them to learn from someone else,” said Costner in an interview conducted in 2011. Baumgartner was thrilled to see that her new husband was so committed to his new family. It seemed as if he had truly turned over a new leaf compared to the father he once was with his previous children.
Back On The Big Screen
After spending some time focusing on family, Costner eventually returned to making movies in 2013, playing Jonathan Kent in Man of Steel. “I won’t make a movie unless I have the ability to do it the way I want, so I hold my breath for a very long time,” explained Costner. “At this point in my life, I don’t want to make a movie I don’t want to make or one that somehow gets manipulated in a way I don’t feel comfortable with.”
“Rewarded My Whole Life”
Costner’s first real love was acting, but to him, fatherhood is much more fulfilling. “Movies are magic, and they’ve always been magic to me,” explains Costner. “You get to play heroes in the movies, but there’s a moment in time where you’re just a father and you get to go home. I have played two roles in my life, one I get paid to do, which is the movies, and the other one is being a father, for which I’ll be rewarded my whole life.”
Happily Ever After
“Sometimes you learn the thing you’re most afraid of will save your life,” said Costner. Now, the man who was once frightened of commitment is happily married to Christine, a woman nearly 20 years younger than him. The couple have been married for 18 years, with three very happy kids. Costner now embraces being a loving husband and father. And as for Christine, the blonde bombshell couldn’t be happier to share the rest of her life with the man of her dreams!