Robin Thicke's Real-Life Love Story

He writes, he sings, he tops the charts – Robin Thicke is quickly becoming a true music superstar, and he's revealing to “Extra” just how he did it.

“I like to sing from my heart,” Robin said simply.

And it's that heart that got him where he is today.

His beautiful wife, actress Paula Patton, is his life's inspiration – and his artistic inspiration.

She starred in his hit video, “Lost without You,” which is now a number one hit.

“We didn't have any money, so we were about to just pick somebody up off the street,” Robin recalled. “And then she said, 'No, don't do that. I'll do it.' I thought she was too big time to do my video.”

In turn, Robin returned the favor for his wife.

Paula told “Extra” it was actually her husband who first encouraged her to start acting.

“Later on in life I decided to take some acting lessons,” Paula explained. “And he said, 'I'll pay for them, I believe in you, and I think that you could be a great actress.'”

It paid off!

Paula starred opposite Denzel Washington in “Déjà Vu,” and Robin's sexy video with his wife helped rocket him to stardom.

He's now the first white artist to top the R&B charts in almost 20 years, and he's written for Usher and Mary J. Blige.

Meanwhile, Robin's famous dad Alan, the beloved “Growing Pains” star, has helped Robin stay down-to-earth and deal with his success.

“My dad always taught me not to do it for celebrity,” he said.