Keith Urban takes out Golden Guitar Award for top-selling Australian album

Keith Urban's 2020 album The Speed of Now Part 1 has taken out the 2021 Golden Guitar Award for Top Selling Australian Album of the Year.

Urban released his latest record in September, following on from his 2018 album, Graffiti U. The Speed of Now contained the hit single 'One Too Many', featuring P!nk. Urban's record debuted at #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart upon its release.

Urban's commercial success beat out the other contenders for the award, fellow country acts The McClymonts, Adam Brand, Troy Cassar-Daley and Brad Cox. Together, they make the top five best-selling Australian country albums of the year.

"Congratulations to Keith and all of the artists and their teams in the Top-Selling Album of the Year category," Country Music Association of Australia chairman Dan Biddle said in a statement.

"I am sure they would all join me in thanking the fans who support their favourite artists by buying the CDs and vinyl and streaming the music that kept us going throughout 2020."

The announcement comes ahead of the 2021 Golden Guitars ceremony, taking place live on January 23 at the Tamworth Region Entertainment and Conference Centre. Country act Fanny Lumsden has the most nominations this year, with The McClymonts and Travis Collins not too far behind.

Event organisers confirmed back in October that the ceremony would proceed in a COVID-safe manner, with only music industry executives permitted as audience members.