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>0001674959</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>DAVIS MARTIN BERNARD</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>1115</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>100283.10</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>1099055064</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>06/03/2025</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NEW YORK</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/13/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1115</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/13/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>MARTIN DAVIS</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>30 IVAN ALLEN JR BLVD NW</com:street1>
            <com:city>ATLANTA</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>30308</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>03/03/2025</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1125</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>100811.25</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>06/03/2025</noticeDate>
        <planAdoptionDates>
          <planAdoptionDate>08/06/2024</planAdoptionDate>
        </planAdoptionDates>
        <signature>MARTIN DAVIS</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3470}]
text: 144
  0001674959
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000092122
  SOUTHERN CO
  001-03526
  30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BLVD., N.W.
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30308
  4045065000
  DAVIS MARTIN BERNARD
  Officer
  COMMON
  MERRILL LYNCH
  3455 PEACHTREE RD NE
  SUITE 1000
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30326
  1115
  100283.10
  1099055064
  06/03/2025
  NEW YORK
  COMMON
  02/13/2023
  PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST
  SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  1115
  02/13/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  N
  MARTIN DAVIS
  30 IVAN ALLEN JR BLVD NW
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30308
  COMMON
  03/03/2025
  1125
  100811.25
  06/03/2025
  08/06/2024
  MARTIN DAVIS