Britney Spears’s new song “3” not only debuts at the number one spot of the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week, but also becomes the song with the shortest title to have done so.  

"3," culled from her forthcoming Greatest Hits set, "The Singles Collection," is Spears’s third number one song after 1999's “…Baby One More Time" and 2008's “Womanizer.”

This is just the 15th time in the history of the Billboard singles chart wherein a newly released single directly debuts at number one.

Other songs that have achieved the feat were "You Are Not Alone" by  Michael Jackson (Sept. 2, 1995); "Fantasy," Mariah Carey (Sept. 30, 1995); "Exhale, Shoop Shoop," Whitney Houston (Nov. 25, 1995); “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men (Dec. 2, 1995);  "I'll Be Missing You," Puff Daddy & Faith Evans (June 14, 1997); "Honey," Mariah Carey (Sept. 13, 1997);  "Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way You Look Tonight," Elton John (Oct. 11, 1997); "My Heart Will Go On," Celine Dion (Feb. 28, 1998); "I Don't Want to Miss A Thing," Aerosmith (Sept. 5, 1998); "Doo Wop (That Thing)," Lauryn Hill (Nov. 14, 1998); "This Is the Night," Clay Aiken (June 28, 2003); "Believe," Fantasia (July 10, 2004); "Inside Your Heaven," Carrie Underwood (July 2, 2005);  and  "Do I Make You Proud," Taylor Hicks (July 1, 2006).

Meanwhile, after a week at the top spot, Jay Sean drops “Down” to number two. Miley Cyrus follows suit with “Party In The USA” moving down from two to three.

“Whatcha Say” by Jason Derulo retains the number four spot while Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West slides down to number five with “Run This Town.”

The Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” continues to lose steam, falling to number six this week. Lady Gaga likewise sinks one level with “Paparazzi” at number seven.

Taylor Swift flounders to number eight with “You Belong With Me.”

Owl City breaks into the top ten singles chart this week by placing their song “Fireflies” at number nine. Kings Of Leon descends a notch to number ten to close this week’s top ten singles countdown.

Michael Buble tops the Billboard album chart this week by selling 132,00 copies of  his latest CD, “Crazy Love.”  Barbra Streisand’s “Love Is The Answer” rules the UK charts for a second straight week.

Hot 100 Top Ten: (1) "3" – Britney Spears; (2) “Down” – Jay Sean (feat. Lil Wayne);  (3) “Party In The U.S.A.” – Miley Cyrus; (4) “Whatcha Say” – Jason Derulo; (5) “Run This Town” – Jay-Z,  Rihanna & Kanye West; (6) “I Gotta Feeling” – Black Eyed Peas; (7) “Paparazzi” – Lady Gaga; (8) “You Belong With Me” – Taylor Swift; (9) “Fireflies” – Owl City and (10) “Use Somebody” – Kings Of Leon.

Billboard 200 Top Ten: (1) “Crazy Love” - Michael Buble; (2) “Sonic Boom” – Kiss; (3) “American Ride” – Toby Keith; (4) “Love Is The Answer” – Barbra Streisand; (5) “The Blueprint” – Jay- Z; (6) “Doin My Thing” – Luke Bryan; (7) Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel” – Mariah Carey; (8) "The Time Of Our Lives (EP)” – Miley Cyrus; (9) “This Is Us” – Backstreet Boys and (10) “Dear Agony”  –  Breaking Benjamin.