Blunt's debut album Back To Bedlam is also in the US top five

Blunt, who won best British male artist and best pop act at last month's Brit Awards , is number one on Billboard's Hot 100 chart with You're Beautiful.

He is the first UK artist to reach the position since Sir Elton John with Candle in the Wind/Something in the Way You Look Tonight.

Blunt's debut album Back to Bedlam is at number five on the Billboard 200.

UK success

The US charts are drawn from a combination of record sales and airplay.

Sir Elton's re-recording of Candle in the Wind topped the US charts after the death of Princess Diana in August 1997. It spent 14 weeks at number one.

For five weeks in July and August last year Blunt, 28, simultaneously topped both the UK singles and album chart with You're Beautiful and Back to Bedlam, before repeating his success across Europe.

Blunt's album has gone on to sell more than six million copies worldwide.

The ex-Army officer's musical career has not been without its critics. Back to Bedlam last week won worst album at the NME Awards.