Ricky Martin: 'I Just Wanted to Be on Top of the World'

Ricky Martin's 25-year career in the music industry has taught him more than his fair share of life lessons -- most importantly, the value of family.

The singer, whose 2-year-old twin sons, Matteo and Valentino, were born via surrogate in 2008, is looking forward to the upcoming release of 'Music+Alma+Sexo,' his first album after his six-year break from recording.

In an exclusive interview, Martin tells Parade that his children have taught him, "Heavy lessons about simplicity and unconditional love. I don't want to sound cliche, another father talking about unconditional love, but man, that's the way it is. You hear it all the time, but when you feel this other branch of love getting stronger and stronger every day, it's just amazing."

While it was the late-90s "Latin Explosion" that made Martin a bona fide American star, he says that his celebrity outshone who he actually was, even keeping him in the closet about his sexuality until 2010. "I was allowing myself to be seduced by ego. I just wanted to be on top of the world and be liked by everybody. But, I don't regret a single moment."

Read more of Martin's interview inside.

What's next for Ricky?
"A very intense tour. I just can't wait to be back on stage. It's also gonna be a time to relax, believe it or not, because after writing the book and releasing this album and spending years in the studio, I have the time to actually see the reaction of the audience. For the last two years it's been about the output, so now it's about the beauty of the stage and going around the world and performing. It will be great."

On the best thing in his life:
"My children. I can't deny that. A lot of people say, 'Wow, you're a single father of twin boys, that's crazy!' Two toddlers can get hectic, but I wouldn't change it for anything. Every day they teach me different things. The love is there. When you have a 2-year-old saying every other hour, 'Papi, te amo. Papi, I love you,' it can't get better."

Being a sex symbol:
"One day I was riding my bike and going from my house to school to church and back. Then I did an audition for this band that was very famous in Latin America [Menudo] and I went from being that kid to being a sex symbol. When you're 12, you're saying, 'What is sex? I have no idea.' But you have to be a sex symbol now. Was I ready for that? Did I know what that meant? All I know is that whenever I was shaking my hips, girls were screaming. That's acceptance! It's just what music brought."

On his fans:
"When it comes to my shows and my crowd, we're all the same. We all behave the same way. When I walk on stage, I go, 'Ladies and gentlemen, we're here to have a good time and it's about daring to be ridiculous.' It's like I transport them to the Caribbean and they feel like they're on vacation. I've performed in China, France, New Delhi and Indianapolis, and everybody just allows themselves to go at it and have a good time. I think that's what I'm doing through music. It's not about 'I'm from here and you're from there.' It's about unity."