Executive Change

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 17, 2021 Commission File Number Registrant, State of Incorporation, Address and Telephone Number I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 1-3526 The Southern Company 58-0690070 (A Delaware Corporation) 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, N.W . Atlanta , Georgia 30308 ( 404 ) 506-5000 The name and address of the registrant have not changed since the last report. Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: ☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) ☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Registrant Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered The Southern Company Common Stock, par value $5 per share SO New York Stock Exchange The Southern Company Series 2016A 5.25% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2076 SOJB New York Stock Exchange The Southern Company Series 2017B 5.25% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2077 SOJC New York Stock Exchange The Southern Company 2019 Series A Corporate Units SOLN New York Stock Exchange The Southern Company Series 2020A 4.95% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2080 SOJD New York Stock Exchange The Southern Company Series 2020C 4.20% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2060 SOJE New York Stock Exchange The Southern Company Series 2021B 1.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2081 SO 81 New York Stock Exchange Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company   ☐ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ☐ Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. On October 17, 2021, the Board of Directors of The Southern Company (the “Company”) elected a new director, Kristine L. Svinicki, effective October 17, 2021. Ms. Svinicki was named a member of the Business Security and Resiliency Committee and the Operations, Environmental and Safety Committee, effective October 17, 2021. Ms. Svinicki served as a Commissioner with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission from 2008 through January 2021, also serving as the Chairman from January 2017 until January 2021. Prior to her tenure on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Ms. Svinicki served as a nuclear engineer for the U.S. Department of Energy and then as a professional staff member for the U.S. Senate. Ms. Svinicki currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences at the University of Michigan, a position she has held since March 2021. No arrangement or understanding exists between Ms. Svinicki and any other persons pursuant to which she was selected as a director. Ms. Svinicki will participate in the Company’s standard non-employee director cash and equity compensation program as more fully described in the Company’s Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 12, 2021. SIGNATURE     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Date: October 19, 2021 THE SOUTHERN COMPANY By /s/Melissa K. Caen Melissa K. Caen Assistant Secretary 2