Kevin Costner appears to have found love again and friends say the Hollywood legend hasn’t looked this happy in years.
The Yellowstone star, 70, has quietly been seeing Kelly Noonan Gores, the 46-year-old filmmaker and ex-wife of billionaire Alec Gores, with whispers of their romance first beginning to swirl last week.
Now, after both made appearances at the JAS Labor Day Experience Festival in Snowmass Village near Aspen over the holiday weekend, albeit separately, speculation about their relationship has only intensified.
‘Kevin is dating and happy again after a very dark time in his life,’ a source told the Daily Mail exclusively. ‘He has been seeing Kelly. They were together in Aspen in late July. He has tried to keep it very hush hush because he doesn’t want this to go off the rails.’
The two-time Oscar winner, who endured a difficult and very public divorce from Christine Baumgartner last year, has been leaning into this new chapter with quiet optimism.
His budding romance with Noonan Gores, insiders say, is offering him exactly the partner and balance he’s been searching for.
Kevin Costner appears to have found love again and friends say the Hollywood legend hasn’t looked this happy in years – he and Kelly Noonan Gores (R) attended the same Aspen event over the weekend
‘She is exactly his type and they have a lot in common: the outdoors, sports — she likes to surf — long walks with dogs,’ the insider added. ‘Also she has young kids and he loves kids, so he thinks that’s cute. He says she is just “chill,” which is what he needs right now.’
While attending the JAS Labor Day Experience, Costner cut a casual figure in a black quarter-zip sweater, dark pants and sunglasses.
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Kevin Costner, 70, 'casually dating' billionaire's ex-wife, 46, after bitter divorce
As he enjoyed the music festival, the father-of-seven looked relaxed as he mingled with friends.
Noonan Gores, meanwhile, turned heads in a chic black mini dress paired with a denim jacket and ankle boots.
Her effortless style fit right in at the glamorous mountain hotspot beloved by celebrities.
Though the pair weren’t photographed together, their overlapping presence did not go unnoticed.
Although they’ve been keeping their relationship under wraps, Costner’s ease was hard to ignore.
For Costner, happiness has been hard-won.
Now, after both made appearances at the JAS Labor Day Experience Festival in Snowmass over the holiday weekend, albeit separately, speculation about their relationship has only intensified
‘Kevin is dating and happy again after a very dark time in his life,’ a source told the Daily Mail. ‘He has tried to keep it very hush hush because he doesn’t want this to go off the rails’
A second source told the Daily Mail: ‘With Kelly, she has fallen into his charm 110%. He thinks she is very nice, super sexy and likes hanging out with her.’
‘Kevin can get almost any woman he wants, and Kelly is his target right now and they both are enjoying each other’s company,’ the insider added. ‘It is hot and heavy right now, and the sky is the limit. He’s looking to hang out with her as much as possible and she is all for it as well.’
His messy split from Baumgartner left him bruised and at times withdrawn, but those close to him say that Aspen, long a refuge for the actor, has become a backdrop for new beginnings.
Costner split from Baumgartner in May 2023 after 18 years of marriage, officially closing the book on their messy split this past February.
The courtroom battle was brutal, with Costner ultimately ordered to pay $63,209 per month in child support — far less than the jaw-dropping $248,000 Christine had demanded.
She was also forced to vacate his $145 million beachfront estate in Carpinteria only two months after filing.
Since then, Costner has leaned into single life, turning heads with rumored links to Jewel, Sharon Stone, Jennifer Lopez, and January Jones.
On Friday, The Daily Mail confirmed that the actor was dating Gores, an accomplished director and author.
The two-time Oscar winner, who endured a difficult and very public divorce from Christine Baumgartner last year, has been leaning into this new chapter with quiet optimism
His budding romance with Noonan Gores, insiders say, is offering him exactly the partner and balance he’s been searching for
An insider told Daily Mail that Kevin has been ‘getting to know Kelley’ amid his busy Hollywood work schedule.
‘Kevin has been filming and working to get a few films off the ground and also dealing with the recent lawsuit against him and his Horizon film, so the times he has had for himself have been few and far between, but he has been getting to know Kelley and it seems like they share an interest with each other and look to hang out even more in the future,’ Daily Mail’s source explained.
The insider claimed that Kevin is being cautious about jumping into a new relationship due to being ‘burned’ in the past.
However, the A-list hunk is still open to finding ‘true love.’
‘Kevin is using kids gloves upon getting into any new relationship because he has been burned, but he also believes in true love and if Kelley were someone to bring that to him, that would be great.’
The source explained that Costner and Kelley have ‘mutual friends, so if it doesn’t work out romantically, they will at least make a good new trusted friend.
‘This is currently in the wait and see period of it all, but they both aren’t running away from a potential loving new relationship.’
‘She is exactly his type and they have a lot in common: the outdoors, sports — she likes to surf — long walks with dogs,’ the insider added; seen in 2025
The Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Costner for comment and has yet to hear back.
Us Weekly also reported that Costner and Kelley aren’t rushing into a relationship just yet, especially with geography working against them — Costner lives in Carpinteria while Noonan is based about 100 miles away in Manhattan Beach.
Still, sparks seem to be flying as the two have reportedly ‘spent time’ together in Colorado.
‘They both frequent Aspen often and have mutual friend groups,’ the source added.
‘They have been getting to know each other and seeing each other casually when they can.’
Little is publicly known about Gores, who married Gores, 72, in 2016
Little is publicly known about Gores, who married Gores, 72, in 2016.
The couple announced their divorce in December 2024 and share a 6-year-old daughter, Riley.
On Instagram, she describes herself as a director, author, and host, as well as ‘Mama, Meditator, Sports Nut.’
News of the budding romance follows a January report claiming the Hollywood leading man ‘is not seriously involved with anyone and not necessarily looking for anything more than that right now.’
It also comes on the heels of Costner publicly shutting down rumors that he was dating Jewel.
While visiting The Howard Stern Show, he told the host: ‘Jewel and I are friends. We’ve never gone out ever.’
On Instagram, she describes herself as a director, author, and host, as well as ‘Mama, Meditator, Sports Nut’
‘She’s special, and I don’t want — I don’t want these rumors to ruin our friendship because that’s what we have. She’s special to me. She’s beautiful enough to go out with,’ he added.
The star recalled that he and Jewel were among a group that included Emma Watson who attended a charity event in the British Virgin Islands in November 2023.
‘She was somebody I just had some tremendous conversations with, and along with Emma,’ he said, noting that they flew together to and from Richard Branson’s island.
Costner was also linked to Stone late last year after a source said ‘sparks were flying’ between them and that ‘they exchanged numbers’ at the Governors Awards in November.
Meanwhile, he was spotted in Aspen enjoying drinks with Lopez at hotspot Kemo Sabe in December.
Though he mingled with her group, it’s unclear how much time they spent together.
That same month, Mad Men star January shared on Instagram Stories that she ‘finally’ had the chance to meet him at a Brunello Cucinelli event.
The actor split from Christine Baumgartner in May 2023 after 18 years of marriage, officially closing the book on their messy split this past February; (seen in 2014)
She wrote: ‘Beautiful evening once again with the incredibly warm @brunellocucinelli_brand family. And I finally got to meet @kevincostner.’
Despite persistent rumors and fans’ hopes, no romance blossomed between Costner and the actresses he’s been linked to, leaving the actor focused on life after his high-profile split.
He remains devoted to co-parenting with Baumgartner, sharing sons Cayden, 18, and Hayes, 16, and daughter Grace, 15.
He also has three adult children from his first marriage to Cindy Silva: Annie, 41, Lily, 39, and Joe, 37.
As the Daily Mail previously revealed, Baumgartner is now planning a tropical wedding with fiancé Josh Connor, a financier, just 18 months after her split from Costner.
Their relationship has been fraught with controversy.
During a heated court hearing in August 2023, Costner accused his ex of cheating with Connor, who was once a close friend and neighbor.
Christine denied the claims under oath, but by January 2024, their romance had become public knowledge.