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>1170</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>100503.00</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>1095684180</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>12/05/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NEW YORK</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/03/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>566</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>SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>77</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/03/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/11/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>527</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/11/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>12/05/2024</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": 3995}]
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
  1170
  100503.00
  1095684180
  12/05/2024
  NEW YORK
  COMMON
  02/03/2023
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  566
  02/03/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/03/2023
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  77
  02/03/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/11/2023
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  527
  02/11/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  Y
  12/05/2024
  08/06/2024
  MARTIN DAVIS