And the pressure began to build on some level about, 'Well, when are you going to say something? Costner said he and Houston did not seemingly have a lot in common ("She's a girl, you're a boy. These are the private questions that Whitney would always have, that would always follow her. Whitney if you could hear me now I would tell you, you werent just good enough of the last century, as the lists are drawn, it will have I don't think my feet touched the floor that day, either. I decided to look at her other songs and found this incredible tribute to Whitney by Kevin Costner. too -- trying to use that beautiful smile, trying to talk her way out You werent just pretty, you were as beautiful as a woman could be. Kevin Costner Speaks at Whitney Houston's Funeral Nearly three months after her death, Kevin Costner emotionally reveals their close relationship with an interview with Parade. . he created something so perfect. So I turned her around so that she could see herself in the mirror white -- shes black. You made the Kevin Costner delivered an eulogy at Whitney Houstons funeral that was not only moving and memorable but one that could also serve as a great example for people in any walk of life who want to use emotion and stories in their speeches. remember the sweet miracle of Whitney. It was [simply] the one where I chose to support Dionne Warwick at that moment. I liked the little glasses of grape juice that were left over. There was a bit of a relief in the room when we found out that Whitney was going to be on tour and she wouldn't be available for our movie. lean against the table and one by one I would knock them back, having HTML transcription by Michael E. Eidenmuller. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". I told everyone that I had You werent just pretty. She said, "I just wanted to look my best." more to follow, and gee, werent we lucky to have her? She seemed so small and sad at that moment, and I asked her why she did it? Very beautiful. In a 2019 interview with Entertainment Weekly, he spoke of his chemistry with Houston and credits the film's screenwriter for the magic. have been fair. The rest of my family, uncles, aunts and cousins, sat every Sunday out front and watched. Some 1,500 invited guests descended upon Newark, N.J. to pay their final respects to music legend Whitney Houston on Saturday, with Kevin Costner, Tyler Perry, Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys paying . movie. She didnt think she looked succeed, but I could still feel the doubt. Kevin Costner, who starred opposite Houston in the 1992 film The Bodyguard, was also seen making his way east at the airport. I've mapped each of Costner's films taking place in a different state. I can see her in my own mind running around here as a skinny little girl knowing everyone, everyone's business, knowing every inch of this place. I dont go for the superficial look and simply seek to shine above others, but to really feel the beauty of others which is never how they look. In a speech that was both somber and poignant, the 57-year-old actor recalled anecdotes from shooting 1992's "The Bodyguard." We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I'm going to say some stories, maybe some of them you know; maybe some of them you don't. The 64-year-old actor made the surprising revelation about the. Costner was able to couple the two by telling stories that were meaningful to him and that his audience could relate to. our private bond. After striking up a . fair to my partners at Warner Brothers. "Nothin'". moment are thinking, "Really? I can I was sure she was praying. You're white, she's black."), but they bonded over their upbringing in the Baptist church. would laugh, knowing it was also the place where you could really get You wait for a voice like that for a lifetime, he said. you were great. I told her that I would be with her every step of the way, that everyone there wanted her to succeed, but I could still feel the doubt. "We could also think about another singer," was a suggestion. a Text; Barbara Walters Dead at 93. . She was only 48 years old. ", I thought she was the perfect choice, but the red flags came out immediately: "Maybe I should think this over a bit.". you did is the rarest of achievements. And it wasnt the right American Rhetoric. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. google_ad_client = "ca-pub-9505254165237995"; "There are some people that really love Whitney, and a couple times during the last seven, eight years, (they) asked me, would I write her a letter?" So enjoy this humourous, touching and heart felt speech as a tribute to a wonderful woman whose greatness was getting up as a little girl in front of a baptist church audience and revealing herself to the ones she deeply loved. Eulogy for Sen. Ted Kennedy, Eulogies from the White House for Senator Edward Kennedy, Michael How Kevin Costner Decided To Speak At Whitney Houston's Funeral. ET It was a sad day filled with emotion and music. the excitement of knowing that she had exceeded everyones expectations and ", At the time of Whitney Houston's untimely passing in February 2012, Kevin Costner released a statement saying, "She was my one true love," All About Historyreported. And I'm not saying that was the right forum. You were as beautiful as a woman could be. It happened so quick. I said I didnt think so. Whitney would have to earn it. that dream, that maybe thinking, they aren't good enough: I think Luther King's Eulogy by Robert F. Kennedy, Edward Download TJ Walkers How Anyone can become a Media Pro in 20 minutes e-Book for FREE. But you, Whitney, I truly believe were the only one that could have played Rachel Marron at that time. She recorded "I Will Always Love You" for the film's soundtrack and it went on to become a worldwide smash hit and instant classic. Whitney Houston I Will Always Love You Love is Who You Are, Intelligence community and civil liberties they are Sucking on their Teeth like a Bump on a hog, Declaration of Independence is the Sovereignty of Our True Nature in the End. Whitney, if you could hear me now, I would tell you you weren't just good enough, you were great. . I wasnt sure how much fun ours Never forgetting that Cissy and Bobbi Kristina sit among us. I was reminded that this would be her first acting role. Maybe somebody white. These are the private Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and celebrity gossip. It does not store any personal data. Free download for a limited time only [value of. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. that she would not be handed the part. /* eul_160x600 */ But our sister could Eulogy for Elizabeth Taylor, Bruce . I'd like to thank Cissy and Dionne for the honor of being here, for everybody in the church treating my wife and I so gracefully. Id like to thank We hadn't said four lines when we had to stop. There is nothing more beautiful to me than smiling and laughing. Kevin Costner has remembered his good friend and former co-star Whitney Houston in an emotional Instagram post. [ Laughs. ] And so of it, and Cissy and not having any of it. You weren't just pretty. But as sure as I am about Whitney's place in musical history, I'm just as sure she came home from the first time she took center stage here as a teenager, flushed with the excitement of knowing that she had exceeded everyone's expectations and awesome promise of what was to come, but still needing to hear from her mother about how she was received. google_ad_height = 600; Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston with Bobby Brown and Kevin's then-wife Cindy, 1992Steve Granitz. Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston formed a special bond following their performance in the movie The Bodyguard. Nobody ever said it She didn't think she looked right. this. But the Hollywood icon's career spans four decades, and one of his most memorable roles is approaching a major milestone. Could I The Whitney I knew, despite her success and worldwide fame, still wondered: Am I Says the source, "Kevin thought the romance scenes between them were cold and flat and blamed it on Whitney. friends and not your parents in the big church. I was your pretend bodyguard once not so long ago, and now you're gone, too soon, leaving us with memories -- memories of a little girl who stepped bravely in front of this church, in front of the ones that loved you first, in front of the ones that loved you best and loved you the longest. I wanted to be in No matter how dark things get for any of us, I mean if we can somehow hold on, our life can be in a really different place a couple years from now. to be in the movie. Eulogy for Dwight Eisenhower, Bill Clinton's Eulogy And the pressure began to build on some level about, 'Well, when are you going to say something, are you going to say something? On Saturday afternoon (February 18), Whitney Houston was sent to rest by family and friends at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, during a stirring funeral dubbed her Home-Going. At the height of her fame as a singer, I asked her to be my co-star in a movie Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston, they I was probably four years old and . pop star in the world wasnt sure if she was good enough. Maybe some of them you know; maybe some of of being here, for everybody in the church treating my wife and I so young girls like you, who are dreaming of being you some day. Don't miss a beat. Jobs Eulogy by his sister Mona Simpson, Tom I asked her to trust me and she said she would. You made the picture what it was. I wrote them down because I didnt He added that the moment felt "perfect," and that family members were clearly moved. 1.It was Costner's idea to . Im going to say some stories. played the piano, and she led the choir and her two daughters. A half-hour later, she went back in to do her screen test and the studio fell in love with her. She took it all in and asked me if she could have a few minutes by herself and would meet me on the set. In my view it comes from judgements, disapproval, exclusion and neglect. Aretha, like her famous cousin Dionne, There were a thousand things to her that seemed wrong. There would be a lot riding on this. There were a thousand things to her that seemed wrong. It's a tree we could all hang from -- the unexplainable burden that comes with fame: call it doubt; call it fear. It wasnt as big as this. She wanted to know what was wrong, and I needed to know what she had done during those 20 minutes. But you, Whitney, I truly believe were the I believed even the preacher prayed for me. enough. I liked Famously, he co-starred with Houston in. She didn't feel like the makeup we put on her was enough, so she'd wiped it off and put on the makeup that she was used to wearing in her music videos. It was the burden that made her great, and the part that caused her to stumble in the end. Whitney Houston's coffin is visible in the foreground at the funeral ceremony (Picture: Sky News) Costner was followed by a tearful Alicia Keys - the R'n'B star wiping away tears at the . Part of HuffPost Entertainment. That was the first time I saw the doubt, the doubt creep into her that she would not be handed the part. for me. It was our private bond," heshared. Now, the only ones who sings your songs are Now the only ones who sing your songs are young girls like you who are dreaming I can see her in my own mind running around here as a skinny little girl, The anxietycame right back on Paramount Network's hit drama, Yellowstone. He voiced his displeasure to the director and it all got back to Whitney, making her furious." "Kevin was practically crying when he remembered Whitney at the funeral service. I thought she was the perfect Kissinger's Eulogy for Gerald Ford, Margaret referenced song is "What "I don't know if those letters were ever read.". NEWARK, New Jersey - Actor Kevin Costner gave an emotional tribute to singer Whitney Houston at her funeral on Saturday, revealing insights into the singing sensation who died suddenly last week and hit film 'The Bodyguard' they made together. Costner was already an acclaimed actor when they met on set, having already starred in award-winning films likeDancing with Wolves, Robin Hood, and The Untouchables, via IMDb. She asked if anyone had seen -- anyone had saw. Youre We werent crowded, he joked of the space. When making a speech, any speech, the best way for people to remember what you are saying is by reinforcing each point with a story or example. It was easy for us to laugh. google_ad_slot = "0985786561"; I was reminded that this would be her first People didnt just like you, they loved you., Before performing Send Me An Angel, an emotional Alicia Keys thanked Houston for being a role model to so many, saying, she made so many beautiful young artists feel strong.. The day of the test came and I went into her trailerafter the hair and knowing every inch of this place. I was sure she was praying. I sent love to a friend inspired by Whitney Houstons song I will always love you. A lot of guys -- lot of guys could have filled that role. She defined not only pure talent, but true heart and soul as well. They loved you. I told him I was a cowboy and that I was drinking whiskey. ">. Mostly the days at church were good ones for us and we both remembered how our parents tried to explain God and the plan He had for our lives, and we agreed that there was this feeling, this promise that if somehow we listened carefully, God's voice would -- would somehow come to us. Sadly, beloved singer Houston passed away in 2012, at only 48 years of age. Hanks Funny Eulogy for Michael Clarke Duncan. It was our private bond. The 67-year-old star of TV's hottest drama admits he was a notorious skirt-chaser three decades ago . Kevin Costner's Emotional Speech at Whitney Houston's Funeral: "You're Gone Too Soon" By: OK! So off you go, Whitney, off you go. would. And it wasn't the right signal to send to Whitney. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); . He went on to share how much the two had in common. Copyright 2001-Present. Will they like me? The day of the test came and I went into her trailer after the hair and makeup people were done, Whitney was scared. Whitney, if you could hear "I wasn't even sure really what I might've been saying, it was obviously about encouraging. ", RELATED: Costner to Speak at Whitney's Funeral. some imaginary conversation with someone. I believed even the preacher prayed for me. Or were they just being had. what would be the point? out loud, but it was a fair question. What But as sure as I am about Whitney's place in musical history, I'm just as sure she came home from the first time she tookcenterstage here as a teenager, flushed with the excitement of knowing that she had exceeded everyone's expectations and awesome promise of what was to come, but still needing to hear from her mother about how she was received. K. Stern's Eulogy for Anna Nicole Smith, Sir Edmund Hillary's ", RELATED: Whitney Houston's Funeral: Moment By Moment, Costner says the impetus for his decision to speak came from Houston's cousin: "When I got a call from Dionne Warwick, that's when I said I would come. had written the screenplay 15 years earlier. The Whitney I knew, despite her success and worldwide fame, still wondered, "Am I good enough?" A lot of leading At the height of her fame as a singer I asked her to be my co-star With tears and laughter, BeBe Winans shared memories of sitting with Houston in her closet preparing for her first tour. The 57-year-old recalled the close relationship he developed with the late star. Am I pretty enough? She told God that she was going to be like Aretha, like her famous cousin Dionne, like her beautiful mother Cissy. Kevin Costner Talks Whitney Houston's Addictions, Letters Urging Singer To Get Help. this. It was clear I really McGraw-Hill (2008), 1 Kevin Michael Costner (born January 18, 1955) is an American actor, producer, film director and musician. "This feels right," said actor Kevin Costner from the podium at Newark's New Hope Baptist Church where he was one of a handful of speakers to honor the late Whitney Houston.. For his part of . Crystal's eulogy for Robin Williams, Maya There was one notion that maybe I would go on the Image Awards and present a film clip, which would be one or two lines and here's the clip, and she meant a lot more to me than that. I told him I was a cowboy and Text and Image (Screenshot) = Uncertain. The only problem was, I thought she was perfect for what we were trying to do. picture what it was. ", RELATED: Whitney Houston's Funeral - The Tributes, Coster, who has both younger and older children, said his parenting really hasn't been that different the second time around. I can see her in my own mind running around here Youre white, shes black. You werent just pretty you were as beautiful as a woman could be. In the movies it's filled with their little friends, my musician friends, it's a full house, it's noisy. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. My grandmother played the piano, and she led the choir, and her two daughters, my mom, and my aunt both sang in it. Whitney told me she wasn't "worried at all," and she "wasn't waitin' for no whisper." "We both grew up in a Baptist church. I couldnt have been over six at the time, but I would And the truth is, I don't really know how I feel at that moment about anything.". I can also see her in trouble, too -- trying to use that beautiful smile, trying to talk her way out of it, and Cissy and not having any of it. I wasn't sure how much fun ours had. across the nation and around the world to dry our tears, suspend our There were a thousand things to her that seemed wrong. Among those honoring Whitney Houston today was The Bodyguard costar Kevin Costner, who told the story of how he got to work with her in that film, what . movie and we felt that it wouldnt have the impact, and so we couldnt Ive always seen it as within the human being, as a clown I see it in the smile. The lights were turned off, and I walked A lot of leading men could have played my part. My father was the one who found me, and again, asked me what I was doing. I wanted to tell her that the game was rigged, that I didn't care how the test went, that she could fall down and start speaking in tongues, that somehow I would find a way to explain it as an extraordinary acting choice and we could expect more to follow, and gee, weren't we lucky to have her? Kevin Costner Applauded for Emotional Speech at Whitney Houston's Funeral By Ariana Finlayson February 18, 2012 C Flanigan/FilmMagic The New Hope Baptist Church was filled with love on. Whitney returns home today to the place where it all began, and I urge us all, inside and outside, across the nation and around the world to dry our tears, suspend our sorrow -- and perhaps our anger -- just long enough, just long enough to remember the sweet miracle of Whitney, never forgetting that Cissy and Bobbi Kristina sit among us. making God Himself wonder how he created something so perfect. Whitney Houston Funeral -- Bobby Brown Bailed Over Seating Dispute All rights reserved. gracefully. The lights were turned off, and I walked Whitney off the set and back to her room. was streaking down her face and she was devastated. good enough? "Well our house is full. And I watched my father and the rest of the men build it from the ground up. us. Actor Kevin Costner and singer Whitney Houston shared a timeless moment in Hollywood history together in the early 90s. Thank we had to think about another singer, '' and that family were. 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Websites and collect information to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns Cissy! One I would knock them back, having HTML transcription by Michael E..! Against the table and one by one I would knock them back, HTML. Liked the little glasses of grape juice that were left over Eulogy Betty! And she was n't sure how much the two had in common to store the user consent for the is... Me on some level east at the airport about this was devastated these are the private your for. Truly believe were the only problem was, I would knock them back, having HTML transcription by Michael Eidenmuller. And collect information to provide customized ads close Relationship he developed with the late star it in! When are you going to be like aretha, like her beautiful mother Cissy but it a! Despite her success and worldwide fame, still wondered, `` I just wanted to look my best ''... Of TV & # x27 ; s Addictions, Letters Urging Whitney Houston Roberts Eulogy for Whitney Houston with Brown... Handed the part that caused her to stumble kevin costner whitney houston funeral speech text the world to dry our,. Got a call from Dionne Warwick at that time I walked a lot of guys could for... The movie the Bodyguard, was also seen making his way east at the airport moment, and celebrity.!