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      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
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        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001815666</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
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      <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>Peoples James Jeffrey</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>14540</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>1250440.00</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>1095684180</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>02/11/2025</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NEW YORK</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
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        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/13/2022</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2516</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/13/2022</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>414</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>33</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>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>357</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/11/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/11/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>48</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/11/2023</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>2516</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>3019</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>423</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>16</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/13/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/03/2024</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>414</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/03/2024</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/03/2024</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>52</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/03/2024</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/07/2024</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>4732</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/07/2024</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>02/11/2025</noticeDate>
        <planAdoptionDates>
          <planAdoptionDate>09/05/2024</planAdoptionDate>
        </planAdoptionDates>
        <signature>JAMES JEFFREY PEOPLES</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 9073}]
text: 144
  0001815666
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000092122
  SOUTHERN CO
  001-03526
  30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BLVD., N.W.
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30308
  4045065000
  Peoples James Jeffrey
  Officer
  COMMON
  MERRILL LYNCH
  3455 PEACHTREE RD NE
  SUITE 1000
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30326
  14540
  1250440.00
  1095684180
  02/11/2025
  NEW YORK
  COMMON
  02/13/2022
  PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  2516
  02/13/2022
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/03/2023
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  414
  02/03/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/03/2023
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  33
  02/03/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/11/2023
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  357
  02/11/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/11/2023
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  48
  02/11/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/13/2023
  PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  2516
  02/13/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/13/2023
  PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  3019
  02/13/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/13/2023
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  423
  02/13/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/13/2023
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  16
  02/13/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/03/2024
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  414
  02/03/2024
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/03/2024
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  52
  02/03/2024
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/07/2024
  PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  4732
  02/07/2024
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  Y
  02/11/2025
  09/05/2024
  JAMES JEFFREY PEOPLES