Power of Attorney

Know all by these presents, that the undersigned director of AmSouth
Bancorporation, the Company, hereby constitutes and appoints John D.
Buchanan, Carl L. Gorday, Dale M. Hebert and Michelle A. Bridges
and any of them, my agents and attorneys in fact, for the limited
purpose of signing any and all Securities and Exchange Commission Forms 3,
4, 5 and 144, and other documents relating thereto, with respect to the
securities of the Company beneficially owned by the undersigned, and any
and all amendments thereto, and to file the same with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, and grants unto said attorneys in fact full power and
authority to do each and every act and thing requested and necessary to be
done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as she
might do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all things that said
attorneys in fact may lawfully do and seek to be done by virtue hereof.
This Power of Attorney shall be valid until my obligation to file the
aforementioned forms as a director of AmSouth Bancorporation ceases, unless
earlier revoked by me by written document delivered to the Secretary of
AmSouth Bancorporation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 20th
day of October, 2005.


                                   /s/DON DEFOSSET
                                      Signature