Carey "grateful" to beat Elvis record

Mariah Carey has reacted humbly after scoring her 18th US number one, beating the 17 achieved by Elvis Presley.

Playing down her achievement, she explained: "I really can never put myself in the category of people who have not only revolutionised music but also changed the world.

"That's a completely different era and time... I'm just feeling really happy and grateful."

The 38-year-old said her success was particularly satisfying because it struck a blow for women and minorities.

"For me, in my mind, the accomplishment is just that much sweeter," she explained. "In terms of my ethnicity, always feeling like an outsider, always feeling different ... for me it's about saying, 'Thank you Lord, for giving me the faith to believe in myself when other people had written me off'."

'Touch My Body' is the first track from the singer's upcoming album E=MC2, which is released on April 16.

Carey caused chaos in London on Wednesday when she signed copies of the single at Selfridges.