Less than two years ago, in May 2023, Kevin Costner and his ex-wife Christine Baumgartner announced their split. Their breakup, which came after almost 18 years of marriage, continued for months after, following a dispute over child support and the home they used to live together. But, now that the dust has settled on their divorce (which was finalized in February 2024), Baumgartner has not only moved on but she’s engaged too!
According to new sources for People, Baumgartner got engaged to financier Josh Connor on Sunday, Jan. 26. “It was about to rain, so almost no one else was on the beach when Josh got down on one knee,” a source told the outlet.
To their close friends, the news was reportedly far from a surprise. “They spent Christmas in New York together last month, where it all began,” the source added. “They are both over the moon and excited for their future together.”
Baumgartner and Connor have reportedly been an item since January 2024, when sources said their friendship flourished into romance.
With that said, however, Connor’s close friendship with Baumgartner did play a role in her divorce. In fact, sources report Costner had his doubts about Baumgartner’s fidelity during their marriage.
“Kevin had strong suspicions that something was going on between Christine and Josh,” a source told Us Weekly in January 2024. “Their close [bond] was a real elephant in the room.”
“It’s hard to say if there was anything going on with them, but he did put his hand on her leg at one point that I saw,” a source told the Daily Mail about their exchange in court at the time. “That was the only actual physical interaction.”
According to documents from their divorce proceedings, Baumgartner went to Connor when he was struggling financially after her split with Costner. Christine’s attorney John Rydell confirmed that Connor lent his now-fiancée $20,000 during the summer when she appeared to be in “distress.”
Also during the summer, Baumgartner and Connor traveled together to Hawaii in July with her and Costner’s kids Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13.
On the stand, however, Baumgartner claimed their relationship was not romantic, and that they were just friends. While Connor funded the trip for “everyone,” Baumgartner attested that she shared the room with another friend.
So while we will never know when exactly their romance began to bloom, it’s safe to say Costner was right about the connection between them. Now they’re headed down the aisle!
Before you go, click here for all the celebrity splits and divorces we never saw coming.
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