Robin Thicke

Robin Thicke performs onstage during KISS 108's Jingle Ball 2013, at the TD Garden on December 14, 2013 in Boston, Mass.

The "Blurred Lines" singer has bared his soul to his estranged wire - and the world - with his new album, titled "Paula."

New York Fashion Week 2003

Robin Thicke (left, in 2003) grew up in a Hollywood family. The son of singer and soap opera star Gloria Loring and actor Alan Thicke ("Growing Pains"). Robin taught himself piano when he was 11 years old. He was only 14 when Brian McKnight heard his demo tape. Thicke ended up co-writing a song for McKnight's album, "I Remember You," released in 1995.

By 16 Thicke was signed to Interscope Records, and was writing songs for artists like Usher and Christina Aguilera. But his first solo album, in 2002, bombed.

"I was devastated," he told correspondent Anthony Mason. "That's why my second album, 'The Evolution of Robin Thicke,' was really all about trying to believe in myself and find some spirituality and self love without the accolades and the record sales."

That record produced his first hit song, "Lost Without U."

Robin Thicke and Leighton Meester

Thicke's 2008 album, "Something Else," spawned the hits "Magic" and "The Sweetest Love." His follow-up, "Sex Therapy: The Session," featured guest artists Jay-Z ("Mieple"), Snoop Dogg ("It's In the Mornin'"), Nicki Minaj ("Shakin' It 4 Daddy"), Kid Cudi ("Elvatas"), Game ("Diamonds"), and Estelle ("Rollercoasta").

Left: Musician Robin Thicke and actress-musician Leighton Meester attend the release party for Thicke's "Sex Therapy," at Butter, December 15, 2009 in New York City.

Covers

Following his 2011 R&B album, "Love After War," Thicke produced his biggest hit to date, the more mainstream 2013 album, "Blurred Lines," which produced the singles "Blurred Lines" (with Pharrell Williams and T.I.), "For the Rest of My Life," "Give It 2 U" (with Kendrick Lamar), and "Feel Good." The album debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at the No. 1 position.

2013 MTV VMAs Concert

Singer Robin Thicke performs at the 2013 MTV VMAs Concert to Benefit LifeBeat presented by MTV and Time Warner Cable at Terminal 5 on August 23, 2013 in New York City.

Twerking

Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke are seen onstage during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, at the Barclays Center on August 25, 2013 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

iHeartRadio Music Festival

Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel

Sean "Diddy" Combs and Robin Thicke perform onstage during the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 20, 2013 in Las Vegas.

Amsterdam

Robin Thicke and Iggy Azalea perform onstage during the MTV EMA's 2013 at the Ziggo Dome on November 10, 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

2013 Grammy Nominations Concert

Robin Thicke performs with Verdine White (left) and T.I. during the Grammy Nominations Concert at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on December 6, 2013.

Selena Gomez and Robin Thicke

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Clear Channel

Selena Gomez and Robin Thicke pose backstage at Z100's Jingle Ball 2013, presented by Aeropostale, at Madison Square Garden on December 13, 2013 in New York City.

Miami

Larry Marano/Getty Images for Clear Channel

Robin Thicke performs onstage during Y100's Jingle Ball 2013 Presented by Jam Audio Collection at BB&T Center on December 20, 2013 in Miami.

Miami

Robin Thicke performs onstage during Y100's Jingle Ball 2013 Presented by Jam Audio Collection at BB&T Center on December 20, 2013 in Miami.

Beverly Hills

Recording artists Robin Thicke and T.I. perform onstage during the 56th annual Grammy Awards' Pre-Grammy Gala, at The Beverly Hilton on January 25, 2014 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Beverly Hills

Robin Thicke performs onstage during the 56th annual Grammy Awards' Pre-Grammy Gala, at The Beverly Hilton on January 25, 2014 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Robin Thicke and Paula Patton

While "Blurred Lines" made Thicke an international star, the success that had eluded him for so long seemed to overwhelm him. His life blew up, and his marriage to actress Paula Patton fell apart.

Left: Robin Thicke and Paula Patton attend the 56th Grammy Awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2014 in Los Angeles. The following month, they were separated, putting an end to their nine-year marriage.

"Paula"

Thicke's response to the breakup of his marriage was to rush out a new record, an album titled "Paula," named after his estranged wife. It's a 14-song apology in which he begs her to come back.

Speaking to Thicke, Anthony Mason said, "Some people are going to say that you're, in effect, exploiting the situation, to sell records. What do you say to that?"

"My music is my life," Thicke replied. "I have no choice but to connect the two."

2014 Billboard Music Awards

"When you looked in the mirror, in all of this, what did you see?" asked Mason.

"I saw a guy who needed to be humbled a little bit," Thicke said. "Because I think you strive for so long for an accomplishment like what happened last year, and then you get it, and then you don't know how to juggle it, you know? And all of a sudden the balls are all over the floor."

"At what point do you recognize that?"

"When it's too late!" he laughed.

Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke

Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke perform during Walmart's annual shareholders meeting, June 6, 2014, at Bud Walton Arena at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.