content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001573512</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000092122</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHERN CO</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-03526</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BLVD., N.W.</com:street1>
          <com:city>ATLANTA</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30308</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>4045065000</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Greene Kimberly S,</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>MERRILL LYNCH</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>3455 PEACHTREE RD NE</com:street1>
            <com:street2>SUITE 1000</com:street2>
            <com:city>ATLANTA</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>30326</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>32190</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>2997582.21</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>1096802197</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>03/10/2025</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NEW YORK</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>03/04/2022</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1291</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>03/04/2022</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>06/03/2022</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1214</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>06/03/2022</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>09/02/2022</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>979</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>09/02/2022</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>12/05/2022</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1369</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>12/05/2022</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/03/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1695</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/03/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/03/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>143</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/03/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/13/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>10049</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/13/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/13/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>12060</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/13/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/13/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1642</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/13/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/13/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>62</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/13/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>06/05/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1686</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>06/05/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>03/10/2025</noticeDate>
        <planAdoptionDates>
          <planAdoptionDate>11/04/2024</planAdoptionDate>
        </planAdoptionDates>
        <signature>KIMBERLY GREENE</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 8485}]
text: 144
  0001573512
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000092122
  SOUTHERN CO
  001-03526
  30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BLVD., N.W.
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30308
  4045065000
  Greene Kimberly S,
  Officer
  COMMON
  MERRILL LYNCH
  3455 PEACHTREE RD NE
  SUITE 1000
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30326
  32190
  2997582.21
  1096802197
  03/10/2025
  NEW YORK
  COMMON
  03/04/2022
  DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  1291
  03/04/2022
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  06/03/2022
  DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  1214
  06/03/2022
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  09/02/2022
  DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  979
  09/02/2022
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  12/05/2022
  DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  1369
  12/05/2022
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/03/2023
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  1695
  02/03/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/03/2023
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  143
  02/03/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/13/2023
  PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  10049
  02/13/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/13/2023
  PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  12060
  02/13/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/13/2023
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  1642
  02/13/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/13/2023
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  62
  02/13/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  06/05/2023
  DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  1686
  06/05/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  Y
  03/10/2025
  11/04/2024
  KIMBERLY GREENE