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>0001524757</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>Kuczynski Stephen E</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMOM</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>5000</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>357400.00</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>1090402540</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>06/12/2023</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NEW YORK</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/27/2020</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>824</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/27/2020</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>03/03/2020</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2500</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>03/03/2020</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>12/31/2020</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>929</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>12/31/2020</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/12/2021</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>747</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/12/2021</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI</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>05/10/2023</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>5000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>374800.00</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI</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>04/10/2023</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>5000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>359450.00</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>06/12/2023</noticeDate>
        <planAdoptionDates>
          <planAdoptionDate>02/24/2023</planAdoptionDate>
        </planAdoptionDates>
        <signature>STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 5742}]
text: 144
  0001524757
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000092122
  SOUTHERN CO
  001-03526
  30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BLVD., N.W.
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30308
  4045065000
  Kuczynski Stephen E
  Officer
  COMMOM
  MERRILL LYNCH
  3455 PEACHTREE RD NE
  SUITE 1000
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30326
  5000
  357400.00
  1090402540
  06/12/2023
  NEW YORK
  COMMON
  02/27/2020
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI
  N
  824
  02/27/2020
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  03/03/2020
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI
  N
  2500
  03/03/2020
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  12/31/2020
  RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST
  STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI
  N
  929
  12/31/2020
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  COMMON
  02/12/2021
  PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST
  STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI
  N
  747
  02/12/2021
  STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI
  N
  STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI
  30 IVAN ALLEN JR BLVD NW
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30308
  COMMON
  05/10/2023
  5000
  374800.00
  STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI
  30 IVAN ALLEN JR BLVD NW
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30308
  COMMON
  04/10/2023
  5000
  359450.00
  06/12/2023
  02/24/2023
  STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI