Sweet 16 for Mariah

As comebacks go, it is almost up there with Liverpool in the Champions League Final.

But Mariah Carey, whose career looked to be in terminal decline just three years ago, has just landed her 16th No.1 single in the US charts.

It is her first chart-topper for six years and puts her in sight of the achievements of Elvis with 18 songs in the top spot and The Beatles with 20.

She cemented her place as the woman with the most No.1 singles - her nearest rivals had just 12.

It ends a traumatic period for the 35-year-old, who may have sold 165million albums worldwide, but looked to be finished in 2002.

EMI ended her contract with a £20million buyout after her album and film Glitter flopped and there were reports of a nervous breakdown.

But within months the diva, known for her huge entourages, was snapped up by Island Records.

Carey's new album, The Emancipation Of Mimi, is flying off the shelves and topped the albums chart.

Her latest single We Belong Together became the 16th No.1, with the promise of more hits to come.

Her spokeswoman Connie Filipello said: 'It is phenomenal, it is historical, Mariah has surpassed other female artists by miles. Her energy and enthusiasm is at an all-time high'