1. Elvis Presley's Birthday - January 8 marks the birthday of rock and roll legend Elvis Presley, born in 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. Visitors can tour his birthplace and childhood home in Tupelo, which has been turned into a museum.

2. Battle of New Orleans - On January 8, 1815, the Battle of New Orleans took place, which saw a victory for the forces led by Andrew Jackson against the British during the War of 1812, cementing Jackson's place as a national hero.

3. First African American Mayor - On January 8, 1973, Richard Arrington Jr. became the first African American mayor of any major city in the state of Alabama, when he was elected as mayor of Birmingham.

4. Birth of Oprah Winfrey - Oprah Winfrey, one of the most influential figures in media and philanthropy, was born on January 8, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi.

5. Mississippi Declaration of Secession - On January 8, 1861, Mississippi became the second state to secede from the union, following South Carolina. The state's declaration of secession cited the "debate over slavery" as a key reason for leaving the Union, leading to the outbreak of the American Civil War.