<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001642170</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000092122</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>Southern Company</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-03526</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, NW</com:street1>
        <com:city>Atlanta</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>30308</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>404-506-5000</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Christopher Cummiskey</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Merrill Lynch</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3455 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1000</com:street1>
          <com:city>Atlanta</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30326</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>6669</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>643891.95</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>1119391291</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>03/19/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/11/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>4000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/11/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/11/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>21</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/11/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/11/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>731</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/11/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/01/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>98</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/01/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/01/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>783</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/01/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/31/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>967</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/31/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/31/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>SOUTHERN COMPANY</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>69</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/31/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>03/19/2026</noticeDate>
      <planAdoptionDates>
        <planAdoptionDate>11/18/2025</planAdoptionDate>
      </planAdoptionDates>
      <signature>Christopher Cummiskey</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
