Mariah Carey is on course to make history next week by becoming only the second artist to claim 18 number one singles in the U.S. The pop diva's new song, "Touch My Body," is expected to surge up the Billboard Hot 100 countdown after being made available as a digital download earlier this week.

And chart experts expect the track to topple Usher's "Love In This Club" next week.

If Carey does hit the top spot, she'll claim her 18th number one, leaving her just two chart-toppers shy of the Beatles' record. Carey currently shares the second spot with Elvis Presley - both have topped the U.S. pop charts 17 times.

The pop superstar recently told Billboard that she's often reminded of the Beatles' record, but, "it's not like I sit around thinking about that type of stuff while I'm creating something."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)