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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RKR5HRE0Crtnqi2iW5KnBkOeKXDapoIfLML2B0YC0FqhixKXVxi7tcpWC6fE53dR
 f78lHK/6hwyFCmkdxGodMw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000732713-04-000166.txt : 20040503
<SEC-HEADER>0000732713-04-000166.hdr.sgml : 20040503
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040503154832
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000732713-04-000166
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040501
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040503

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BELLSOUTH CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000732713
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				581533433
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1155 PEACHTREE ST NE
		STREET 2:		ROOM 15G03
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30309-3610
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4042492000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1155 PEACHTREE STREET NE
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30309-3610

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KELLY JAMES P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208223

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08607
		FILM NUMBER:		04773624

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		150 EAST BAY RD
		CITY:			OSTERVILLE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02655-1938
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732713</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BELLSOUTH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208223</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KELLY JAMES P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>UPS, INC., 55 GLENLAKE PARKWAY, NE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30328-3474</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Deferral Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1768.1691</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.157</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-01-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1768.1691</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14510.5259</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5824</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-05-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5824</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5824</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">SHARES OF PHANTOM STOCK CONVERT TO COMMON STOCK ON A ONE-FOR-ONE BASIS.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">SHARES OF PHANTOM STOCK ACQUIRED PURSUANT TO BELLSOUTH CORPORATION DEFERRAL PLAN IN TRANSACTION EXEMPT UNDER RULE 16b-3(d).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">PAID OUT 1/5 PER YEAR BEGINNING ON 1/1/07.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">INCLUDES SHARES OF PHANTOM STOCK ACQUIRED AS A RESULT OF REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS ACCRUED ON PHANTOM SHARES PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED UNDER VARIOUS DEFERRAL PLANS IN TRANSACTIONS EXEMPT UNDER RULE 16b-3 AND DEFERRED INTO PHANTOM ACCOUNT.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">A GRANT OF NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS (RIGHT TO BUY) INVOLVES NO PAYMENT OF CONSIDERATION BY THE RECIPIENT.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Marcy A. Bass, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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