Ricky Martin Felt 'Numb' After First Coming Out

Though he didn't show any sign of it at the time, singer Ricky Martin broke down after finally revealing his sexuality last year.

"When I realized, okay, I just pressed send, whoo … I was alone," the singer said of the moments after sending the e-mail coming out. "I was in my studio alone for a minute. My assistant walked in and I just started crying like a little baby. I started crying." Martin, 38, will appear in an interview with Oprah on Tuesday to discuss his emotions about the experience.

"I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man," he said in the e-mail he sent last March. But he felt "numb" and "relieved" afterwards. According to the pop star, he decided to come out for his children, two twin boys he conceived two years ago with the help of a surrogate.

"I couldn't take it anymore," he said of his silence on his sexuality. "It was too painful. But I guess the most important thing is my children. When I was holding them in my arms I was like, 'What, am I going to teach them how to lie?'" But his children gave him the strength to open up about the truth. "'That is my blessing right there," he remembered thinking. "Then, when I was holding my children I said, 'Okay, it's time to tell the world.'" –AMY LEE