Kevin Costner breaks his silence on Jewel dating rumors: ‘She’s special’

Kevin Costner has set the record straight over the romance rumors surrounding him and singer Jewel.

Following his messy divorce from Christine Baumgartner, the Oscar winner, 69, has been romantically linked to the “Foolish Games” singer and was seen hanging out together on several occasions.

“Jewel and I are friends — we’ve never gone out,” Costner said on “The Howard Stern Show.” “She’s special, and I don’t want these rumors to ruin our friendship because that’s what we have.”

Costner said he’s worried that speculation about the pair’s relationship status could plague his friendship with Jewel, 50.

Still, he made sure to nip the rumors in the bud, telling host Howard Stern that they have “never gone out, ever,” despite admitting that the singer is “special” and “beautiful enough to go out with.”

The “Yellowstone” actor also detailed how the pair’s paths crossed, recalling a trip they took to Richard Branson’s private island with other celebs in December 2023.

“We were down at Branson’s Island, she has a foundation, which I didn’t know … and Richard Branson had been asking me for years to come down to Necker Island and so I finally did,” Costner said.

“I’m divorced all of a sudden, I’m a single father, and he’s asked me for ten years to come down there.”

Snaps of the duo cozied up in the British Virgin Islands surfaced showing Costner being unable to keep his hands off the singer as he wrapped his arms around her waist while she talked to an audience through the microphone.

At the time, Jewel was hosting the Inspiring Children Foundation tennis fundraiser on the plush Necker Island while Costner attended as a guest.

The pair reportedly flew in and out of the island together.

It’s believed that the actor and the “Standing Still” hitmaker were intentionally set up by Branson, who offered Jewel his private island to host the fundraiser.

Jewel, for her part, avoided putting an end to the romance rumors about the pair as she gushed over the actor in an interview earlier this year.

“He’s a great person,” she told Elle in April. “The public fascination is intense for sure.”

The outlet noted that she was noticeably blushing while addressing the frenzy surrounding their alleged romance.

Costner is fresh out of a bitter divorce from Christine Baumgartner.

The former couple — who share kids share Cayden, 16, Hayes, 15, and Grace, 13 — called it quits in May 2023 after 18 years of marriage.

Meanwhile, Jewel was previously married to pro cowboy Ty Murray from 2008 to 2014. They share son Kase, 12.