Britney Spears is back on top of the charts with the debut of her latest album Circus.

The new LP has debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200, selling more than 500,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.

Britney has had the second biggest first week album sales for a female musician this year, coming in just behind teen star Taylor Swift.

“Imagine a year ago, did anyone think that today she would be able to come out with an album that would not only just debut at No 1, but also do half a million copies in its first week?” says chart manager Keith Caulfield.