Justin Bieber's Baby is highest-certified song in history

Justin Bieber has toppled Sir Elton John to take the title for the highest-certified single in U.S. history for his worldwide smash Baby.

The teen superstar's hit single has gone 12-times platinum since its release in 2010, overtaking the Rocket Man's double-sided tribute to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, Candle in the Wind/Something About the Way You Look Tonight, which went 11 times platinum in 1997.

Bieber's latest accomplishment benefited from a recent rule change made by officials at the Recording Industry Association of America, incorporating on-demand streaming figures in addition to single sales.

The switch enabled Baby, which has only sold 3.9 million copies, but has notched up over 857 million views of the promo on Vevo.com, to surpass Elton's release, which sold 33 million units.

The good news will give Bieber further reason to celebrate following his triple win at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday (19May13).