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Marc Anthony Regrets Not Being There for His Kids: ‘Was It Worth It?’

Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony on ‘Sunday Morning.’ CBS

Marc Anthony opened up to CBS Sunday Morning in a rare interview airing Sunday, May 1, and revealed that he wishes he could be there more for his twins, 8-year-olds Max and Emme, who he shares with his ex-wife Jennifer Lopez, as well as his other four kids from previous relationships.

“The one regret would be that what I chose to do took so much of my time,” Anthony, 47, reflected to Tracy Smith. “What I would have done to have been a stay-at-home dad, and, you know, witnessed every second of everything. I would have loved that. Didn’t work out that way.”

Related: PHOTOS: Jennifer Lopez's Ageless Moments Through the Years!

The Latin-American multihyphenate said he questions whether his career — he’s sold 12 million albums worldwide and has numerous business ventures, including a Kohl’s clothing line, his own company, Magnus Media, and part-ownership in the Miami Dolphins — was worth the time apart from his young kids.

“It’s the one thing that just tugs at me going and … that’s the biggest sacrifice,” Anthony told Smith. “And you sort of … start to wonder, ‘Was it all worth it? Was it worth it?’ You know, on that level.”

Anthony also opened up to CBS about his upbringing as one of eight kids in Spanish Harlem in NYC. Even as a young child, Anthony dreamt of moving out of the neighborhood and becoming someone big. “To my mom, I was a pain in the ass,” he recalled. “To my dad, I was the light of his eyes. And to me, I was awkward. I had glasses. I weighed 2 pounds. My dad always told me, and as God’s honest truth, ‘Son, we’re ugly. Work on your personality.’”

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrity Splits of 2016

Still, he found himself with superstar Lopez, one of the world’s most beautiful women. The two married in 2004, but split in 2011, and finalized their divorce in 2014. He is now married to his third wife, Shannon De Lima. 

Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Max and Emme
Marc Anthony with Jennifer Lopez and their kids, Emme and Max, on stage at Madison Square Garden in 2009. Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Lopez, meanwhile, made headlines earlier this month when she opened up about what went wrong in her marriage to Anthony.

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrities Who Have Been Married Three Times or More

“I hung in there for seven years,” Lopez, 46, told W in its May 2016 cover story. “I knew very quickly that it wasn’t the right thing. When my marriage ended, it was not easy to find forgiveness. It wasn’t the dream that I had hoped for, and it would have been easier to fan the flames of resentment, disappointment and anger. But Marc is the father of my children, and that’s never going away. So I have to work to make things right. And that is, by far, the hardest work I do.”

The actress holds primary custody of the kids. Just a few days ago, Lopez posted a photo of herself snuggling in bed with Max and Emme. “My idea of a Perfect afternoon… #snuggles #coconuts #LOVE,” she captioned the pic.

My idea of a Perfect afternoon… #snuggles #coconuts #LOVE

A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) on

Anthony also shares two sons, 15-year-old Cristian and 12-year-old Ryan, with his ex-wife Dayanara Torres. He has a 22-year-old daughter, Ariana, whom he shares with his ex Debbie Rosado, and an adopted son, Chase.

Tune in to Anthony’s interview on CBS Sunday Morning on Sunday, May 1, at 9 a.m. ET.

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