Kevin Costner, Hollywood’s Hottest Guy at Age 70, ‘Wants to Meet Someone’ After Divorce: Source (Exclusive)

Kevin Costner is having a moment. In December 2024, Kristin Cavallari revealed the 70-year-old actor is her “forever crush” in an Instagram Story, and later that month, Costner made headlines when he was spotted with Jennifer Lopez at hotspot Kemo Sabe in Aspen, Colorado. It wasn’t the first time the internet was abuzz over his chemistry with a fellow A-lister: In November 2024, he was reportedly seen flirting with Sharon Stone at an event in L.A., and last summer, fans were shipping Costner and Hoda Kotb following their apparent connection during his appearance on Today. Kotb even later coyly admitted she was open to the idea of dating the star when she was informed viewers were rooting for them.

Nearly two years since Costner was blindsided by his divorce from his wife of 18 years, Christine Baumgartner, he’s clearly back in the saddle. (Baumgartner has also moved on: she got engaged to financier — and Costner’s former friend — Josh Connor in late January.) “It was tough at the beginning, but Kevin has no regrets about the divorce and believes it was the best decision for both him and Christine,” a source tells Us Weekly in the latest cover story, adding that the exes are coparenting their three children “amicably.” (They share Cayden, 17, Hayes, 16, and Grace, 14; Costner is also dad to Annie, 40, Lily, 38, Joe, 37, and Liam, 28, from previous relationships.)

He’s in high demand work-wise, too. On January 24, Costner announced via social media that the second installment of his epic passion project, Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2, would make its debut at the Santa Barbara Film Festival on February 8, and he recently kicked off a three-part docuseries on Fox Nation called Yellowstone to Yosemite with Kevin Costner. Between 2018 and 2023, he helped make Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone a massive hit as steely patriarch John Dutton, and fans of the popular Western series have yet to get over his season 5 departure from the show. “He’s grateful for the resurgence Yellowstone brought to his career,” says the source, “but it’s best to leave at the top, and he feels like he did that.”

The still-impossibly hunky star is taking the newfound attention in stride. “Kevin’s flattered by all the admiration,” says the source, “but he isn’t taking it too seriously.” Yet he remains open to finding love again. “People are supposed to be together,” he told Extra in June 2024. “I’m sure that could happen for me.” The source tells Us that for Costner, “2025 is all about figuring out his projects and carving out time for his personal life. He wants to get out more and maybe meet the right person. He feels optimistic.”

Turning 70 on January 18 “was a huge milestone,” says the source, “but age isn’t something Kevin dwells on. He’s busier than ever. He feels great.” Here, Us reveals how Costner manages to stay relevant, driven — and oh-so-crushworthy — after all these years.

He’s a Hollywood Powerhouse

Costner has worked steadily since his breakout roles in films like Field of Dreams and Bull Durham. But he had something of a career renaissance after Yellowstone debuted in 2018. (His final season on the Paramount+ show premiered to an impressive 15.9 million viewers; the source tells Us that despite Costner’s premature exit, he had “no significant conflicts” with his castmates.) Work is a driving force for him. “If you can stay interested in what you’re doing, it will keep you younger,” he’s said. “Being engaged in what you do will sustain you.” Adds the source: “Kevin doesn’t see aging as a hindrance. He has tons of goals to accomplish. He wants to direct more and explore new creative outlets. Even at his age, he continues to evolve as an artist and storyteller.”

As for retirement, it’s not something he’s thinking about right now. “People say, ‘Man, this should be the moment in time where you’re pulling back and catching some waves,’” he told AARP magazine in 2024. “I don’t think they’re wrong, but it’s not my way.”

He Bets on Himself

Costner famously put $38 million of his own money (and the mortgage of one of his beach houses) into Horizon, an ambitious, four-part film series about settlers in the American West. The first part debuted in June, and the sequel — which was delayed — will premiere at the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival in early February. Chapters 3 and 4 are still in development, and although the first installment flopped at the box office, Costner is determined to bring both to fruition. “Horizon is a passion project,” says the source, “and that’s why Kevin invested so much into it, regardless of the financial risk.”

It’s not the first time he’s put it all on the line professionally for something he cared about. Costner said that in the late ’80s, he passed up “more money than I’d ever seen” when he chose to direct Dances with Wolves over starring in The Hunt for Red October. “I made this promise that I would go do this movie,” he said. Dances with Wolves went on to receive 12 Academy Awards nominations, and he won for Best Picture and Best Director. “That’s the message I want my kids to understand about who I am,” he told GQ in May 2024. “That I do what I believe in.”

He’s Active

Back in 2015, Costner revealed he stayed fit doing the Daddy Workout — a.k.a. chasing after his then-young kids. “I work hard at playing harder than [my children],” he said, sharing that as a family, they loved to run around their 1.4-acre cliffside Santa Barbara compound, where they still spend a lot of their time. “I love a little horseback riding, followed by taking the kids out to the tide pools … I’ve been real lucky about a lot of things in my life, but one of the things has been this ability to stay healthy,” he added, noting that “one of the big things that helps me is that I don’t sit it out. I move. I get out there and take the biggest bite out of life that’s possible.”

He Loves the Simple Life

The source says Costner is happiest when he’s home in Santa Barbara or at his sprawling Aspen ranch with the family and his Labrador, Bobby. (He recently revealed he’s often driving the kids to and from school, friends’ houses and volleyball practice. Says the source: “Any free time [Kevin] has, he wants to spend with them.”) He also enjoys hanging out with members of his small but trusted inner circle. “He has a very tight social circle of longtime friends,” says the source, noting that “most of them aren’t famous.” The part-time rock star is close with his bandmates from his Americana-country music group, Modern West. Adds the source, “Kevin prefers life outside of the spotlight.”

He Bounces Back

It’s been a tumultuous few years for Costner. In early 2023, there were reports he was feuding with Yellowstone creator Sheridan over scheduling conflicts. “I made Yellowstone the first priority, and to insinuate anything else would be wrong,” Costner said. Not one to be silenced, the actor also called out the show’s studio execs for not defending him in the media, saying, “I have taken a beating from those f—ing guys.” That May, Baumgartner filed for divorce as he was struggling to complete Horizon. But he refused to give up. “I’m right now looking at myself in the dark and going, ‘Are you going to f—ing stand up and finish? Get up … Get the f— up and deal with this and find the joy every day of seeing your kids play while you’re here — and then work your ass off to get this thing finished.’” The source also notes that despite Costner’s messy divorce from Baumgartner, he is “happy” for his ex. “[Kevin’s] aware of her engagement. At the end of the day, he wants what’s best for her. He’s happy, and she’s happy, and that’s all he can ask for.”

He’s Open to Love

The source tells Us Costner has been on a few dates “but nothing serious” and that while he hasn’t officially ruled out getting married again, it’s “unlikely.” That doesn’t mean he’s not enjoying playing the field. “He wants to meet someone,” says the source. Sadly for his A-list admirers, he’s looking for a lady who isn’t in the industry. (Fans who flood his Instagram account with comments like, “Marry me!” and “Kevin is looking good!” may be happy to hear that.) “Kevin doesn’t like dating Hollywood actresses and Hollywood people. He likes a more average woman,” reveals the source, adding, “he has people trying to set him up.” Shoot your shot, ladies!

With reporting by Andrea Simpson

For more on Costner, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.