Kevin Costner felt it was “appropriate” that he host a special about the birth of Jesus Christ.
Costner has rarely spoken publicly about his religious beliefs, but the people who are close to the “Yellowstone” actor understand the important role faith has played in his life from the time he was a child, he said.
Decades before the award-winning actor became a household name, Costner gave his first performance in his church’s annual nativity play. He recalls being cast as a shepherd at about 4 years old, and giving just a single line — “Hark.”
Now, more than four decades into his Hollywood career, Costner is returning to the Nativity story as the host of the upcoming ABC special, “Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas.”
“I was raised in a church. I haven’t probably proclaimed that to the world, but anybody who knows me, knows that,” Costner said. “It’s been so much a part of my life — religion that has spread around this world."
He added, “I’ve been a part of all kinds of stories, but to be able to narrate the birth of Christ, it seemed appropriate to me, given my history with the church.”
Coster is best known for his streak of hit movies during the ’80s and ’90s, including “Field of Dreams,” “Silverado,” “The Bodyguard” and “Dance with Wolves” — which earned the actor Academy Awards for best picture and best director.
The 70-year-old actor has recently found success starring on the Paramount hit series, “Yellowstone,” for four and a half seasons before leaving to head his own Western film saga, “Horizon.”
The two-hour ABC special, “Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas,” offers a thoughtful, reverent retelling of the Nativity story blended with Costner’s narration — which provides a personal touch. The special centers on Mary and Joseph’s experiences, tracing their trials and devotion as they make the humble journey that leads to the birth of Christ.
Costner understands that while faith has played a major role in his own life, many people do not share his religious beliefs or experiences. He acknowledges that religious conversations and projects, like the upcoming special, can attract criticisms.
He explained that “religion is very easy to attack,” and not so easy to defend. He knows how religious cynics can overwhelm believers with hundreds of questions, many of which might be difficult to answer. Still, the actor clings to the story of Jesus Christ, which he described as “incredibly special.”
“You choose to believe,” Costner said. “I choose to believe — that doesn’t mean I know how to defend it when someone can come at me from different directions.”
Diving deeper into the story of Christ’s birth, especially the challenges faced by Mary and Joseph, challenged Costner’s own faith and left him with a richer, more profound perspective on the story.
The ABC special explores these struggles in greater depth, showing the young parents of Jesus confronting emotional and practical challenges often omitted from the traditional Nativity narrative. Costner believes that experiencing the Nativity story in this raw, unfiltered way will highlight just how much faith and courage Mary and Joseph required.
“Imagine the idea that she’s unwed, she’s pregnant. There’s a level of shame that goes with that. There’s a boy just your same age. Now, there’s also this, this deep-seated fear, because there was always a promise that this person was coming, that would change the world and the idea that as a young girl, that you’re somehow (part of) this whole thing, that had to be overwhelming for them,” Costner said.
He hopes the ABC special will resonate with audiences in a similar way, gently reminding viewers of the season’s most meaningful message.
“We’re bombarded with a lot of things about Christmas,” Costner said, noting that while every family has its own traditions, the countless messages about the season can easily feel overwhelming.
“There’s these kinds of things that assault us,” he added. “A lot of things get a lot of red and a lot of green, and there’s a lot of lights ... sometimes we forget about the story a little bit.”
“The First Christmas” offers viewers an opportunity to “to just stop and reflect,” Costner said. “(We) tried to put it into the best perspective we could, and put it in, that we did as an offering. I think there’s always a place for that, where we slow down for a second.”
“Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas,” premieres on Tuesday, Dec. 9, on ABC. The special will be available to stream the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.