Keith Urban/Kelsea Ballerini

A stellar songwriter and one of the best guitarists in the Nashville, Keith Urban is what country legends are made of. On his new album, Graffiti U, Urban goes more pop country than he’s ever gone before. On“Coming Home,” his collaboration with “Issues” singer and a big player in the pop songwriting game, Julia Micheals, Urban creates a catchy, heartfelt, perfect-for-radio track with cool bluesy guitar riffs. “Horses,” another collaboration, this time with the Canadian crossover country diva Lindsay Ell, goes even softer. It’s an anthem for finding the strength to let go of what’s holding you back and letting yourself run free. Opener Kelsea Ballerini is the fastest rising female in country music and with the impressive lyrics and perfectly-assembled pop-country singalongs on her sophomore album, Unapologetically, it’s easy to see why. The title track is a beautiful love song for her husband and fellow country music artist, Morgan Evans. “High School” is another highlight about a boy who can’t let go of his teenage glory days. “Get Over Yourself” is the embodiment of who Ballerini is as an artist: confident, honest and unapologetic. Ballerini has all the makings of becoming the next Taylor Swift; she won’t be opening shows for long. (Halle Weber)