Beyoncé's Surprise Album Smashes iTunes Record

Beyoncé's unexpected unveiling of her fifth album shocked almost everyone last week and has gone on to smash the US iTunes record for fastest selling album in a week ever.

According to iTunes and her label Columbia Records (via Billboard), Beyoncé sold 828,773 copies in its first three days, with 617,000 sold through the US store alone, setting the new record previously held by country star Taylor Swift. Her album Red sold 465,000 digital copies in one week back in late 2012.

At the moment, the album, which features 14 tracks and 18 videos, can only be purchased through iTunes, with most physical retailers in the States set to start selling the album later this week.

The album from the recent Aussie visitor was not expected to drop until next year but the superstar singer managed to keep her plans to release it early under extremely tight wraps - here's how we think she fooled us all.