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>0001616250</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>Poroch David P.</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>10099</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>706504.67</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>1090619349</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>01/17/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NEW YORK</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>01/17/2024</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>STOCK OPTIONS</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>10099</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>01/17/2024</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>DAVID POROCH</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>11/16/2023</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>10000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>693900.00</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>01/17/2024</noticeDate>
        <planAdoptionDates>
          <planAdoptionDate>03/06/2023</planAdoptionDate>
        </planAdoptionDates>
        <signature>DAVID POROCH</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3458}]
text: 144
  0001616250
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000092122
  SOUTHERN CO
  001-03526
  30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BLVD., N.W.
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30308
  4045065000
  Poroch David P.
  Officer
  COMMON
  MERRILL LYNCH
  3455 PEACHTREE RD NE
  SUITE 1000
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30326
  10099
  706504.67
  1090619349
  01/17/2024
  NEW YORK
  COMMON
  01/17/2024
  STOCK OPTIONS
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  10099
  01/17/2024
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  N
  DAVID POROCH
  30 IVAN ALLEN JR BLVD NW
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30308
  COMMON
  11/16/2023
  10000
  693900.00
  01/17/2024
  03/06/2023
  DAVID POROCH