DEBT (Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
		May 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt			$ 0		$ 0	$ 0
Total long-term debt - face value			3,957,208		3,357,899	3,357,906
Unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs			(70,864)		(70,224)	(71,399)
Total long-term debt - book value			3,886,344		3,287,675	3,286,507
Less current maturities			12,228		515,435	509,435
Total long-term debt - reported value			3,874,116		2,772,240	2,777,072
Estimated fair value of long-term debt			4,442,119		3,443,225	3,341,097
Delayed Draw Term Loan Expires 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity				$ 1,600,000
Line of Credit [Member] | Bank Line Of Credit Due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt	[1]		$ 0		0	0
Maturity year	[1]		2025
Line of Credit [Member] | Bank Line Of Credit Due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt - face value	[1]		$ 0		0	0
Maturity year			2025
Term Loan Due [Member] | Delayed Draw Term Loan Expires 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt - face value			$ 1,100,000		0	0
Maturity year	[1]		2024
Effective interest rate			1.21%
Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt - face value			$ 3,957,208
Notes [Member] | Floating-Rate Notes Due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt - face value			$ 0		500,000	500,000
Maturity year			2021
Notes [Member] | 8.85% notes due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt - face value			$ 6,000		6,000	6,000
Interest rate			8.85%
Maturity year			2021
Effective interest rate			8.88%
Notes [Member] | 4.50% notes due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt - face value			$ 400,000		400,000	400,000
Interest rate			4.50%
Maturity year			2025
Effective interest rate			4.65%
Notes [Member] | 3.90% notes due 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt - face value			$ 400,000		400,000	400,000
Interest rate			3.90%
Maturity year			2027
Effective interest rate			4.00%
Notes [Member] | 3.50% notes due 2030 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt - face value		$ 750,000	$ 750,000		750,000	750,000
Interest rate		3.50%	3.50%
Maturity year		2030	2030
Effective interest rate			3.94%
Notes [Member] | 7.15% notes due 2037 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt - face value			$ 129,239		129,239	129,239
Interest rate			7.15%
Maturity year			2037
Effective interest rate			8.05%
Notes [Member] | 4.50% notes due 2047 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt - face value			$ 700,000		700,000	700,000
Interest rate			4.50%
Maturity year			2047
Effective interest rate			4.59%
Notes [Member] | 4.70% notes due 2048 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt - face value			$ 460,949		460,949	460,949
Interest rate			4.70%
Maturity year			2048
Effective interest rate			5.42%
Other Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt - face value			$ 11,020		$ 11,711	11,718
Effective interest rate			2.45%
Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt			$ 0
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 1,000,000			$ 1,000,000

[1] Borrowings on the bank line of credit are classified as short-term if we intend to repay within twelve months and as long-term if we have the intent and ability to extend payment beyond twelve months.