By Karu F. Daniels, BlackVoices.com

Janet Jackson has a reason to smile today.

The first week sales numbers for her new album, 'Discipline,' are putting the 'Control' singer in the top spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

According to Nielsen Soundscan, the Island Def Jam records disc racked up 181,075 copies in sales since arriving in stores on Feb. 26.

The 22-track opus marks Jackson's 10th studio album (13th overall) and features collaboration with a battery of hip-hop hit-makers including Rodney Jerkins, who produced the infectious lead single 'Feedback,' Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Jermaine Dupri, Ne-Yo, Stargate, Tricky Stewart, and The-Dream.

The project was earmarked for success with the pop star's recent association with the Antonio 'L.A.' Reid-helmed Island Def Jam Music Group, which she signed to last year.

Gone was her time-tested pairing with R&B super-producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, her four-year ban from MTV (stemming from the 2004 SuperBowl "Nipplegate" controversy with Justin Timberlake) and her near 15 year relationship with Virgin Records.

By stepping out on – what many thought to be – blind faith, Janet (as she is affectionately known) is back on top.

"Janet delivered an amazing album and Island Def Jam is on a mission to deliver big results for her in every way," Reid said in a statement. "Janet is musical royalty who only deserves the very best."

The roll-out for 'Discipline' kicked off with her live concert performance on ABC's 'Good Morning America.' She also performed on MTV's countdown program 'TRL' later that day before meeting and greeting 5,000 avid fans at a Best Buy in-store signing event.

Within 48 hours later, the former 'Good Times' star stopped traffic at a Virgin Megastore event in Los Angeles.

Her retail showings were padded with high profile TV appearances on 'Larry King Live,' the 'Ellen Show,' 'The Tyra Banks Show' and Jimmy Kimmel Live.'

'Discipline' is the five-time Grammy Award winner's first chart-topping album debut in nearly seven years, since 'All For You' in May 2001.

Prior to its release, 'Feedback' was named Janet's biggest-selling digital single ever, and the video (by British director Saam Farahmand) is currently in major video channel rotation on BET, MTV, VH1, and VH1 Soul.

JANET JACKSON: From Then To Now ('Control' and 'Feedback') videos