London, Oct 15 : Pop star Britney Spears has become the first artist in over three years to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 pop charts after taking her new hit "3" to the top.

The saucy tune has rocketed to the top of the countdown, which will be released Thursday, after fans snapped up 255,000 downloads in the tune's opening week, reports contactmusic. com.

The last act to enter the charts at number one was former "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks, who hit the top in July 2006 with "Do I make you proud".

"3" is only Spears' third Hot 100 chart-topper. The singer previously hit the number one spot with her debut "... Baby one more time" a decade ago and "Womanizer", which spent a week atop the countdown exactly one year ago this week. (IANS)