Kevin Costner says he has no choice but to 'go forward' despite being hurt after divorce from Christine Baumgartner

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kevin Costner has opened up about the challenges of his divorce from his wife of 18 years, Christine Baumgartner.

During an appearance on CBS Mornings on June 26, Costner reflected on ending his relationship with Christine. The couple shares three children: Cayden, 17, Hayes, 15, and Grace, 14.

Kevin Costner calls his divorce from Christine Baumgartner 'crushing moment' 

"That's a crushing moment. It's powerful. It hurt," Costner said on CBS Mornings after host Gayle King asked him how he was doing in the wake of the divorce.

Costner added, "But I go forward. I have no choice my children are looking at me," adding "So I can't wilt like a daisy, I have to go forward."

The 69-year-old added, "I have to continue to be who I am and keep a special eye on who they are."

After dating since 1998, Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner tied the knot in 2004. After eighteen years of marriage, Christine, 50, filed for divorce on May 1, 2023, citing April 11, 2023, as the date of separation.

After Christine's attorneys requested that a Santa Barbara, California, court relieve both parties from completing an obligatory co-parenting course, Costner and Christine's marriage was formally dissolved in February.

The two-time Oscar winner and his ex-wife had previously agreed to retain joint custody of their three children and settled their divorce in September 2023. A representative for the actor told PEOPLE at the time that the two "have come to an amicable and mutually agreed upon resolution of all issues pertaining to their divorce proceedings."

Kevin Costner on his life after divorce

In another interview with People Magazine, Costner said, "You just do it," while getting candid about his life after divorce.

He added, "You just keep talking, you keep coaching the kids you keep interested in what they're interested in ... I had to." 

Costner was previously married to Cindy Silva for sixteen years before he wed Christine. He and Cindy have three adult children together and divorced in 1994.

After the split, he briefly dated Bridget Rooney, with whom he has a 27-year-old son named Liam, before starting a relationship with Christine.

On his love life ahead he said, "Yeah, I think everybody would like to be in love," he recently told People about potentially finding romance again. "There's such a good feeling that's associated with that. It may have to be defined in a different way. But yeah, I love the idea of that possibility."

Costner's new movie, 'Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1,' is in theaters on June 28, with Chapter 2 set to release on August 16.