If you’ve spent any time on Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines. One day Kristin Cavallari is dating a 24-year-old TikToker, and the next, she’s supposedly "shooting her shot" with the king of Yellowstone himself, Kevin Costner. It’s a lot to keep up with. Honestly, the internet has a way of taking one tiny comment and turning it into a full-blown Hollywood romance before the person has even finished typing their caption.
So, let’s get into what actually went down.
The Instagram Story That Set Everything Off
It all started during a casual Sunday night. Kristin was doing one of her usual "Ask Me Anything" sessions on her Instagram Stories back in December 2024. Most of the questions were the standard stuff—skincare routines for Uncommon James, how she balances three kids, the usual. But then, a fan asked the question everyone was thinking: "Can you just go on a date with Kevin Costner already?"
Kristin didn’t play it safe.
She posted a photo and wrote, "Give him my number," followed by the words "forever crush." Naturally, the internet lost its mind. Within hours, the tabloids were running with it. "Kristin Cavallari Makes Her Move!" and "Is a New Hollywood Power Couple Forming?" were everywhere. People were obsessed with the 32-year age gap—she’s 37, he’s 69—and the fact that both of them were fresh off high-profile divorces. Kevin had finalized his messy split from Christine Baumgartner earlier that year, and Kristin was single again after her breakup with Mark Estes.
It felt like the perfect storm for a gossip cycle. But as it turns out, the reality was a lot less "movie romance" and a lot more "joking with friends."
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Let’s Be Honest: Setting the Record Straight
Fast forward to April 2025. Kristin dropped an episode of her podcast, Let’s Be Honest, titled—wait for it—"Shooting My Shot with Kevin Costner." If you were expecting a 40-minute reveal about their secret dates in Aspen, you were probably disappointed.
Kristin used the episode to basically vent about how ridiculous tabloid culture is. She explained that she was just killing time in LA and feeling cheeky.
"I said, 'The Weeklys, don't turn this into some bullshit headline... let this stay here on Instagram.' And what do you know? The next day there were a thousand headlines."
She clarified that while she thinks Kevin Costner is an "all-timer"—meaning he’s just objectively one of those men who stays handsome forever—she isn’t actually trying to date him. She called him a "forever crush" in the same way someone might call George Clooney or Brad Pitt a crush. It’s a title. It’s not a literal "I am waiting by my phone for this man to call me" situation.
Actually, she sounded pretty frustrated. She talked about how exhausting it is to have every joke analyzed. One minute she's being called reckless for dating younger guys, and the next she’s a "hopeless romantic" for mentioning an Oscar winner. She basically told her listeners that if they see her in a headline, there’s maybe a 2% chance it’s actually true.
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Is There Actually a Connection?
Here’s the thing: while Kristin says it was all a joke, the timing was wild. Kevin Costner has been the most eligible bachelor in Hollywood lately. He’s been linked to everyone from Jewel to Sharon Stone. Heck, even some of the Real Housewives have joked about fighting over him.
Kevin himself hasn’t said a word about Kristin. In fact, some sources close to the actor suggested he might not even know who the Laguna Beach alum is. Ouch. He’s been busy promoting his massive film project, Horizon: An American Saga, and dealing with the fallout of the Yellowstone drama. Dating a reality TV star probably isn't at the top of his to-do list, even if she is a successful entrepreneur.
Why the Public Fell for It
Why did we all want this to be real? Probably because the contrast is hilarious. You’ve got Kristin, the queen of 2000s reality TV, and Kevin, the gritty face of modern Westerns.
Plus, Kristin has been very vocal about her "roster." She’s admitted to dating athletes and "regular guys," but a Hollywood heavyweight would be a massive shift. People love a "rebound" story, especially when it involves two people who have been through the ringer in their previous marriages.
The Reality of Kristin’s Dating Life Right Now
Despite the Costner rumors, Kristin has been pretty clear about her current vibe. She’s done with the "bullshit." She’s mentioned on her podcast that she’s looking for something real, but she’s also not in a rush.
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- No more athletes: She’s famously said she’s done with the sports world after her marriage to Jay Cutler.
- The "Regular Guy" Experiment: She’s been trying to date people outside of the industry, though she admits it’s hard when your life is a literal fishbowl.
- Kids First: With three growing kids (Camden, Jaxon, and Saylor), her schedule doesn't leave much room for casual flings with Montana ranchers.
She’s basically at a point where if a guy isn't adding value to her life, she’s out. She told her listeners she’d rather be "brutally honest" and end things quickly than waste energy. That "no chill" attitude is part of why her fans love her, but it also makes the idea of her pining over a movie star seem pretty unlikely.
What This Tells Us About Celebrity News in 2026
The whole Kristin/Kevin saga is a perfect example of how the "Discover" feed works. You take a recognizable name, add a hint of romance, and stir in a little controversy (the age gap).
But if you actually listen to what the woman is saying, she’s telling us to stop believing the hype. She’s leaning into her role as a "troublemaker" but also trying to reclaim her narrative. It’s a weird balancing act. She wants to be open on her podcast to build her brand, but she hates that the openness gets twisted into clickbait.
So, no, Kristin Cavallari isn't dating Kevin Costner. She isn't waiting for a DM. She was just a girl on her phone, making a joke about a handsome guy, and the world decided to turn it into a season of Yellowstone.
Next Steps for Following the Story:
If you want the actual truth about Kristin’s life, skip the Page Six alerts and go straight to the source. Her podcast Let's Be Honest is where she actually breaks down which headlines are "trash" and which ones have that 2% of truth she mentioned. You can also keep an eye on her Uncommon James socials—she usually drops more personal updates there than anywhere else.