Check Out These Carved Pumpkins!!!

If you're like me, you like to carve a pumpkin for Halloween...not like this though! This is AWESOME!!!

Trace Adkins' Burned-Down House is Finally Meeting the Wrecking Ball.

Even though TRACE ADKINS' house burned to the ground last summer, what's left still had to be demolished and hauled away. But you can't just rush in . . . you need to wait for inspectors and insurance people to do their thing. Still, Trace had been growing impatient. A month after the fire he said, quote, "It takes ridiculously long. I just want to get what's left of that house torn down. It looks sad. It's the eyesore of the neighborhood. We all want to get it gone." Well, all that nonsense is finally over and the house is being hauled away piece by piece. Trace posted a photo on Twitter for everyone to see. He wrote, "The house is coming down."

(TwitPic)

Miranda Lambert Said No to the Airport Body Scanner . . . And Yes to the Pat-Down.

The TSA doesn't care how famous, or sexy, a person is. For example, when MIRANDA LAMBERT refused to submit to the airport scanner, they went with plan B, the pat-down. And it made Miranda mad. Later, after she settled into her seat, she voiced her opinion. She Tweeted, quote, "Dear Airports. You suck." That got sympathy from her followers. Someone wrote back, quote, "Yes airports stink; especially when somebody sees us naked in those machines." And then Miranda Tweeted, quote, "I refused it and got the pat down. Ew." Miranda probably realized the irony in this whole exchange. How can you hate airports when your current single is called "Baggage Claim" and it's doing very well. After she landed and went to get her luggage, she brought it up. She Tweeted, quote, "About to head to the guess what . . . ??? (hint; it's a top 5 song on as we speak:)"

Check Out the Most Over-the-Top Halloween Display of 2011!

I couldn't help myself on this one! I love decoreated homes...this one is awesome! Check it out!

"Battlefield 3" is Out Today . . . How is it Different From "Call of Duty"?

"Battlefield 3" (M) on Xbox360, PS3, and the PC. The latest game in the "Battlefield" franchise is a little different from the "Bad Company" games. For starters, you can go prone. This game also reintroduces JETS to the vehicle list. And suppressive fire now has the effect of blurring vision and reducing the other guy's accuracy. So how does "Battlefield" differ from the "Call of Duty" games? The size of the maps is one big difference. "CoD" maps are small because they are geared toward 6-man squads, meanwhile "Battlefield" has enormous multiplayer maps that, on the PC version, can handle up to 64 players! With this one you also get destructible environments, meaning you can blow holes in a wall to make your own door. And then there are the vehicles. "Battlefield" lets you drive tanks and jeeps, or fly the helicopters and jets. You also have the option to choose between multiple spawn points. Come back from your last death by either spawning at your base, or on the front line by selecting any member of your squad. By the way, this game launches a new social feature called "Battlelog" with built-in text messaging, which lets you view game statistics, form platoons with your friends, comment on each other's stats, and access all of it from your mobile device. PC users can also use Battlelog to launch the game and join friends who are already playing.

Billy Ray Cyrus Saw His First UFO . . . And There's Photo Proof!

I've seen my share of sunsets and a few sunrises but for some reason I keep missing the spaceships hovering over the horizon! Fortunately for me, and for all of mankind, BILLY RAY CYRUS had a camera in hand when he witnessed his very first alien craft. Actually, crafts. It happened on Sunday and he posted it on his Twitter page. Billy Ray Tweeted, quote, "O. K. . . my first U F O sighting. Looks like five or six disc-like shapes hovering. Special moment 4 DAD." Sadly, Billy Ray didn't explain the last line, "Special moment 4 DAD". It must mean one or more of his kids were with him. (--He has five. Three with his wife Trish, and two of hers that he adopted.)

Loretta Lynn Is ‘Doing Well’ After Hospitalization.

Loretta Lynn, suffering from the early stages of pneumonia, was hospitalized this weekend and forced to cancel concert dates. According to an update posted to Lynn’s official website on Saturday night, the 76-year-old is currently “doing well”. Doctors have diagnosed her as the beginning stages pneumonia, and will continue to need rest,” the statement reads. “Loretta is doing well and is disappointed but feels confident she will be ready for upcoming November dates.” This summer,Lynn — the legend behind ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter,’ who’s been a staple in country music for over 50 years — found herself calling off several tour dates due to knee surgery. She also dealt with a bout of exhaustion and dehydration back in July. It’s unclear whether Lynn is recuperating back at home or if she’s still in the hospital at press time. If the statement on her website remains accurate and Lynn’s health continues to improve, she’ll be back on the road as early as November 3, when she’s expected to perform in Knoxville, Tenn. Tour dates continue on through early December, and then pick back up again in mid-February.

(Taste Of Country)

Trace Adkins Delivers Perfect Rendition of National Anthem at World Series Game 2

Someone over at MLB sure loves country music. Scotty McCreery sang the National Anthem at the first game of the World Series. He was followed by fellow country superstar Trace Adkins, who belted out the song before Game 2 between the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals. Adkins took off his black hat, obviously a display of respect since everyone removes their caps during the National Anthem, and delivered a perfect rendition. His deep voice resonated throughout a packed Busch Stadium in St. Louis. He was spot on, and it was a roaring rendition like only he could deliver. We love how he nailed the “free” part at the end of the song, too. While Scotty McCreery suffered a brief microphone malfunction, Adkins had no technical difficulties and didn’t stumble lyrically at all. But we have to admit we knew that somehow Trace Adkins would get this right. He’s a proud American who knows his National Anthem word-for-word and would probably consider flubbing the lyrics an act of treason — or at the very least, a slap in the face of his country. The series shifts to Arlington, Texas on Saturday. Ronnie Dunn is slated to sing the National Anthem at that game, which is further evidence that MLB hearts country music. It’s a country trifecta of National Anthems across the first few games.

Miranda Lambert Announces 2012 Tour

Miranda Lambert has been burning up the country music scene with her red-hot career, so when it came time for her to put together her new tour for 2012, it was only fitting to call it the On Fire Tour. The tour is set to kick off on January 12 in Rockford, Ill., and will feature two of country’s hottest stars on the rise as her opening acts: Chris Young and Jerrod Niemann. The new trek will come just two months following the release of her fourth studio album, ‘Four the Record.’ “I’m looking forward to the tour and playing some new music from ‘Four the Record,’ and kicking some attitude,” says Lambert in a press release about the tour. “Chris and Jerrod have great shows, and we’re gonna have a lot of fun out there this year. It will be a great year with our fans. See you out there!” Next month, Lambert is nominated in two categories at the 45th Annual CMA Awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year. Young is also nominated this year for the New Artist of the Year award. The CMAs will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 8:00PM ET on ABC.

(Taste Of Country)

Brad Paisley Reveals 2012 Tour Dates With Scotty McCreery, the Band Perry

The dates for the first leg of Brad Paisley‘s highly anticipated 2012 tour, featuring Scotty McCreery and the Band Perry, have been revealed. The tour is set to kick off on January 12 in Grand Rapids, Mich., and will continue on into March. Twenty cities for the Camobunga! 2012 World Tour have been confirmed thus far, with more dates expected to filter in as the launch time nears. He’ll be co-hosting the 2011 CMA Awards, set to air on November 9, alongside Carrie Underwood. McCreery just released his debut album, ‘Clear as Day,’ which remains at No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart this week.

(Taste Of Country)

Alan Jackson is a Huge Fan of Taylor Swift's Songwriting.

TAYLOR SWIFT gets her share of props, but I'm willing to bet this is one of her all-time favorites. It's from ALAN JACKSON, at his induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on Sunday.(--GARTH BROOKS was also inducted as were songwriters John Bettis, Thom Schuyler and Allen Shamblin.) "Country Weekly" caught up with Alan backstage. He told them, quote, "I've been a fan of hers. That first song of hers came out, 'Teardrops On My Guitar', I didn't know who she was, I never seen her, heard her. "I just heard that song on the radio, and I thought, 'You know what, that's a well-written song, and whoever that is, I love the record. She's gonna do something.' "I knew it then. I could just tell. It's a song written from some experience." (--For the record, "Teardrops" was Taylor's second single. It came out in 2007. "Tim McGraw" dropped a year earlier, in 2006.)

Scientists in Tel-Aviv Have Figured Out "Quantum Levitation" . . . And It Makes Hoverboards Suddenly Seem Much More Realistic!

According to "Back to the Future Part II", we're supposed to have hoverboards by 2015. And we might be a lot closer thanks to scientists at Tel-Aviv University in Israel. There's a new video on YouTube where they show off something called "quantum levitation." Basically, they figured out how to use super-magnets to make a frozen disc of special material FLOAT in mid air. But it doesn't just float there. They can tilt it, and it stays locked in that position. And they can even put it on a circular track, and it make it float around.

Giuliana Rancic Has Breast Cancer

E! News host GIULIANA RANCIC announced yesterday that she has early stage breast cancer and she's only 36. She made the announcement on the "Today" show, saying the cancer was caught back in August while she was preparing to try to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization. Her doctor insisted she get a mammogram as a precaution because pregnancy hormones could accelerate cancer if she had it. She said, quote, "I wasn't prepared to get a mammogram until I was 40 years old. I never in my wildest dreams expected anything to be wrong." But she added, quote, "I will be okay, because I found it early. I'm doing surgery this coming week, and then I go to radiation for six and a half weeks." Giuliana, who's married to the very first "Apprentice" winner BILL RANCIC, also said she still plans to have a baby. Even though it hasn't even been conceived yet, she says that baby has already SAVED HER LIFE.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Blake Shelton's Song "God Gave Me You" Came at a Low Point in his Relationship with Miranda Lambert.

Artists love to talk about how critical it is to choose the right music to record. And yet, every once in a while they come across a song that chooses THEM. That's what happened to BLAKE SHELTON and his #1 hit "God Gave Me You".
He says, quote, "I was flipping through stations and landed on a contemporary Christian station, and that song came on and I almost had to pull the truck over. I felt like I was hearing that song at that moment for a reason." The reason was that Blake and MIRANDA LAMBERT were going through a tough time. He says, quote, "It's no secret, Miranda and I have had our ups and downs over the years and this was definitely at a low point at our relationship." The version that Blake heard was written and recorded by Christian artist DAVE BARNES.

Just a side note from me...
Sometimes when we ask for a sign, it's not always one that we see. Wait for your sign with your heart, not always with your eyes and ears. Lord knows, I know exactly what Blake meant.

Have a great day everyone!
Hammer

Two NFL Coaches Got Into a Fight After Their Post-Game Handshake!

The 49ers beat the Lions 25-19 yesterday, and immediately after the game, Niners coach JIM HARBAUGH and Lions coach JIM SCHWARTZ almost got into a FIGHT. Harbaugh was jumping up and down celebrating, and he gave Schwartz a pretty hard handshake at mid-field, and sort of dismissed him. And he also allegedly shouted a swear word. And Schwartz apparently took offense . . . because he ended up CHASING Harbaugh down the field, while the players and coaches kept them from going at it. Harbaugh tried to accept some of the blame for it, but not really. He said, quote, "I was really revved up . . . That's on me. [The] handshake was too hard." But they both definitely lost their cool. Here's the video! Check it out for yourself!

Ladies!! Cast Your Vote For "Country Weekly's" Sexiest Man

"Country Weekly" is asking YOU to vote for Country Music's Sexiest Man. The field is wide open on this one, meaning there's no qualifier, such as Sexiest Bachelor or Sexiest Guitar Player. You can vote on their website . . . but you will have to give up your name and email address. There's a photo page featuring each of the 51 nominees, along with his name, and the tab to cast your vote. One more thing. If you don't like any of the choices, you can click on "Other" and then enter an artist's name who isn't shown.

Vote Here!

Taylor Swift Has Recorded 25 Songs for Her Next Album...ALREADY!

We won't be seeing a new album from TAYLOR SWIFT until late next year . . . but it may be worth the wait because she already has enough songs recorded for a double album! Taylor talked about it on RYAN SEACREST'S show yesterday. She said, quote, "(I've) already recorded 25 songs, and we have a year to go! I've been writing so much more in the first part of this recording process than I did last time." Since Taylor works nonstop, she was asked how she finds the time to knock out so much music. Turns out it's late at night when the rest of the world is getting sloppy in clubs. She said, quote, "Being so busy there's not a lot of time to stop in the middle of the day. And when you get inspiration it's like four in the morning and you're in a hotel room and there's nobody to call." Since Halloween is right around the corner, Taylor was asked if she's picked out a costume. She said, quote, "I really want to be a 'Toddlers & Tiaras' girl, but I might blow it off." Taylor has a pretty good reason for not being as enthused about Halloween as you and I. She says, quote, "The idea of dressing up is awesome, but it also feels like work because I change clothes nine times in my show."

Rodney Atkins Is Finally Opening Up About Reuniting With His Birth Mother.

Two pivotal moments in RODNEY ATKINS' life happened in 2008. He became the spokesman for the National Council for Adoption and he decided to search for his birth mother. (His birth mother got pregnant at 19, and, until recently, managed to hide the entire pregnancy from her family. She gave Rodney up for adoption when he was an infant. For privacy reasons he refuses to reveal her name.) Once Rodney decided to go for it, it didn't take long to locate his birth mom. Good thing, because it sounds like it was eating him up. He told Pollstar.com, quote, "I needed to close that door. "But I also just wanted to tell her thank you, because she had some other alternatives to end that situation. I'm glad I did that really, really, really for her."(--The alternative he's referring to is, of course, abortion.) Rodney's birth mother has been living her entire adult life not knowing anything about her child. He explains, quote, "She's been carrying that around, wondering what happened, and I could tell it was such a relief. "She kept saying, 'I'm sorry.' I kept saying, 'Thank you.'" Rodney's birth mom eventually married and had another son. And after she reunited with Rodney, she finally told HER mother about the secret. Rodney says, quote, "She had to tell her after all these years, 'You have another grandson that I never told you about.' I can't imagine what she's been carrying."

The New "Avengers" Movie Is Coming!

Here's the new trailer for the new Marvel "Avengers" movie coming Spring 2012! I can't wait for this one! I thought Iron Man was really good. Didn't see Captain America or Thor yet, but they are all present in this one! Looks awesome! Check it out!

Brad Paisley Tweets Picture of Carrie Underwood’s ‘New Look’

Brad Paisley continues to treat Carrie Underwood like a kid sister. The two country superstars are preparing up for their third stint co-hosting the CMA Awards next month, and the ‘Camouflage’ singer is getting started with the jokes early. In a recent tweet, Paisley said, “Hadn’t seen Gooberwood in a while, til today. She looks…uh… healthy.” He added this picture of the previously very trim and fit country beauty. Now we can’t be completely sure that Underwood hasn’t grown three chins in recent weeks or months, but she was looking her best in Las Vegas last month. A more likely explanation for Underwood’s increased buoyancy is an iPhone app that allows one — like Paisley — to alter a photo before uploading it to Twitter. It’s the second time Underwood has been a victim of Paisley’s phone. Last month, he tweeted, “Strange who you run into at the proctologist. Err, I mean recording studio.” This picture wasn’t doctored. The two also starred in Paisley’s video for his most recent chart topper, ‘Remind Me.’ While Paisley has just finished his H2O II Tour, Underwood is currently working on a new album. The new project will be her fourth studio album, the first since 2009′s ‘Play On.’

(Taste Of Country)

Here's the New Trailer for Max Payne 3!!

It's been eight years since the last game in the series was released! For your enjoyment, here's the trailer for Max Payne 3!

The NEW Trailer for Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

More Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Videos

Taylor Swift to Embark on Wonderstruck Fragrance Tour

Day off? There’s no such thing in Taylor Swift‘s beautifully famous and sweetly-scented world. The singer is in the midst of her mega-successful, guest appearance-littered and cover song-filled Speak Now world tour, which runs through November. Still, she is adding to her already Iron Woman schedule, courtesy of a promotional tour for her new warm and spicy scent, Wonderstruck.

Read The Entire Story Here!

(Taste Of Country)

Will Ronnie Dunn Ignore The Grand Ole Opry's Demand That He Play "Old Hits" At His Performance On Saturday?

RONNIE DUNN is setting himself up for a showdown with the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. It started on Monday when he threw down the gauntlet with a post on his Facebook page. He wrote, quote, "I'm singing on the Opry Saturday Night. Someone called a few days ago and informed me that they prefer past radio 'hits'. "I'm having a hard time playing by 'the rules', these days. I really am! In fact, I'm over it. Think I'll sing what I feel like singing, they can spank me and send me home." Close to 700 fans offered their support and several hundred of those commented on his post. And then Ronnie added his own comment, taking it one step further. He wrote, quote, "This is amazing to me . . . I've received MORE comments from this post than anything I've ever said. What's good to hear is that YOU, (THE FANS) are passionate about following your hearts and people that do. "I've NEEDED to hear this for a very long time!!! Don't let me blow this!! I don't get another chance." Ronnie's "rules breaking performance" will be part of the Opry's 86th Birthday Bash Weekend. Other acts on Saturday's show include RASCAL FLATTS, CRAIG MORGAN and CHARLEY PRIDE.

Trace Adkins Doesn't Let His Daughters Listen to "Nasty Songs"

TRACE ADKINS may be a big star, but he's also a dad. A dad who does NOT approve of "nasty songs" that are marketed to teenage girls. Especially the ones he had to stop his 13-year-old daughter from listening to. Trace said, quote, "I think some of those girls are really bad influences on little girls. There are some girls in pop, and that's what they do. They record nasty songs, and then they market them to my little girls. And that [crap] ain't right."

(--Trace has three daughters from his current marriage . . . and two daughters from a previous marriage.)

Blake Shelton Announces "Well Lit and Amplified Tour 2012"

Blake Shelton won’t be easing into 2012. The country superstar and ‘The Voice’ mentor is kicking off a headlining tour before returning to the revolving seat on NBC’s hit reality show. Shelton announced this morning that he’ll bring Justin Moore and Dia Frampton on the road with him this January through March on his Well Lit and Amplified Tour, which will hit 27 cities. No specific dates have been announced for the 2012 Well Lit and Amplified Tour yet, but it’ll he kicking off in Toledo, Ohio and ending in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay. Right now, Shelton’s official website only lists dates through December.

Johnny Cash's To-Do List Included a Reminder to "Kiss June"

I love a legend with a sense of humor. And so I bring you JOHNNY CASH'S "Things To Do Today" list. It was recently put up for auction and it's awesome. Here it is . . .

Rodney Atkins Follows Garth Brooks’ ‘Genuine’ Example.

Rodney Atkins makes it a point to always spend time signing autographs, posing for photographs, playing charity events and otherwise reaching out to his fans. Now that the title track of Atkins’ October 4 release, ‘Take a Back Road,’ has become his fastest rising single ever, don’t expect any of that to change. He points to one of his musical idols, Garth Brooks, as an example he will continue to follow.

Read The Rest Of The Story Here!

(Taste Of Country)

The Only Group That Uses Twitter More than 18-to-29-Year-Olds Is . . . Congress!

Most people don't think of Congress as being hip or cutting-edge, but a new survey found that they're more plugged in than people in their 20s. According to an Associated Press survey, 441 members of Congress have Facebook profiles. That's five out of every six members. And it's 8% more than the percentage of young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 who are on Facebook. When it comes to Twitter, our Congressional representatives are way cooler than the millennial generation: 433 members are on Twitter, or four out of every five. Only 18% of adults under 30 have Twitter accounts. Republicans are more active tweeters than Democrats. 86% of House Republicans are on Twitter, compared to 75% of Democrats. 87% of Republican Senators have Twitter accounts, compared to 80% of Democrats. Of course, just because they're ON social networks doesn't mean they really know how to use them. The study found that most of the tweets and status updates from Congress are dry policy talking points. One third of 18-to-29-year-olds have tried to contact government officials online, so according to the study, if Congress was more interactive on social networks, they might be able to reach their younger followers.

(Associated Press)

Are Girls in Japan Getting Cosmetic Dental Surgery to Make Their Teeth Crooked?

Before writing another check to your kid's orthodontist, you might want to consider moving to Japan. Young girls are rushing to dental salons in Tokyo to sign up for a cosmetic procedure called yaeba . . . which gives them crooked teeth! Yaeba means "double tooth" in Japanese(Yup...needed to look that one up!). The procedure pushes a girl's canine teeth forward, giving her a slight vampire-fang effect. The idea is to make the girl look more like a cat. A lot of times, yaeba also lengthens and sharpens the two teeth to make her look even more feline. As a result, girls have two teeth sticking out of the corners of their mouth when they smile. Many female Japanese celebrities have gotten yaeba, and the procedure has grown in popularity in recent years. Now, girls who can't afford the full yaeba can get fake adhesive teeth stuck on top of their real canine teeth to get crooked fang teeth without costly surgery.

What is this world coming to???

(Oddity Central)

Big Machine Records Teams With Colonial Candle Company For Holiday CD + Candle!

Yuletide cheer is coming and you can spread a little thanks to a cool, Christmas promotion featuring your favorite country superstars. Big Machine Records and Colonial Candle have partnered just in time for the holiday season. An all-star lineup of country artists singing their favorite Christmas carols – coupled with the magical scent of a yuletide fire and fresh cut pine – provides a perfect transition into the holiday season. The new luxury boxed gift set features an exclusive holiday CD packaged with an 8-ounce Colonial Candle "Holiday Sparkle"-fragranced candle. Suggested retail price for the gift set is $25. It's beginning to sound and smell a lot like Christmas thanks to this set!

Click Here to see the artist line up!