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>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>5000</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>344600.00</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>1091015113</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>03/11/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NEW YORK</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/07/2024</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>5000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/07/2024</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</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>01/10/2024</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>5000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>359950.00</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>12/11/2023</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>5000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>356150.00</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>02/12/2024</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>5000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>334700.00</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>03/11/2024</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": 4665}]
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
  COMMON
  MERRILL LYNCH
  3455 PEACHTREE RD NE
  SUITE 1000
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30326
  5000
  344600.00
  1091015113
  03/11/2024
  NEW YORK
  COMMON
  02/07/2024
  PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  N
  5000
  02/07/2024
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  N
  STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI
  30 IVAN ALLEN JR BLVD NW
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30308
  COMMON
  01/10/2024
  5000
  359950.00
  STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI
  30 IVAN ALLEN JR BLVD NW
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30308
  COMMON
  12/11/2023
  5000
  356150.00
  STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI
  30 IVAN ALLEN JR BLVD NW
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30308
  COMMON
  02/12/2024
  5000
  334700.00
  03/11/2024
  02/24/2023
  STEPHEN KUCZYNSKI