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Chrisley Family's Post-Prison Woes & Reality TV Comeback

Published 6 hours ago4 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Chrisley Family's Post-Prison Woes & Reality TV Comeback

The Chrisley family is making a highly anticipated return to television with a brand-new reality series titled "The Chrisleys: Back to Reality." This show marks their first appearance on screen since "Chrisley Knows Best" concluded two years ago, following the legal troubles and subsequent imprisonment of patriarch Todd and matriarch Julie Chrisley for tax evasion and bank fraud. Now, with their high-profile presidential pardon by President Donald Trump having brought their legal battles to an end, the family is prepared to share their unfiltered story and the challenges of adjusting to life after incarceration.

The new docuseries is set to premiere as a two-night television event on Lifetime, airing Monday, September 1, and Tuesday, September 2, with each night featuring a two-hour episode starting at 8/7c. Following the premiere, back-to-back episodes will continue on Tuesday, September 9, culminating in the season finale on Tuesday, September 16.

Familiar faces from the original series, "Chrisley Knows Best," will be featured in "The Chrisleys: Back to Reality." Todd and Julie Chrisley return alongside their children Savannah, Chase, Grayson, and adopted granddaughter Chloe. Fan-favorite Nanny Faye will also bring her distinctive wit and warmth to the show. Adding new dynamics, Julie’s parents, Harvey and Pam, are joining the cast for the first time. However, Todd’s older children from a previous relationship, Lindsie and Kyle Chrisley, are notably absent and are not participating in this new project.

Todd and Julie Chrisley were originally sentenced in November 2022 to a combined 19 years in prison for multiple charges, including bank and wire fraud and tax evasion. Their sentences were later reduced in 2023 amid ongoing appeals. A significant turning point occurred in May 2025, when President Donald Trump officially announced their pardons during a phone call with the Chrisley children. Trump was quoted saying, “It’s a terrible thing, but it’s a great thing, because your parents are going to be free and clean. I don’t know them, but give them my regards and wish them a good luck,” a conversation later shared on X.

Since their release, Todd, 56, and Julie, 52, have openly discussed the unexpected difficulties of returning to normal life. On their "Chrisley Confessions 2.0" podcast, they shared a consensus among former inmates that life outside prison can be "rougher than prison life" from an emotional and psychological standpoint. Julie explained that while incarcerated, there was a certain mental simplicity due to limited options, stating, "you can’t live out there and in here at the same time because it’ll literally run you crazy." The couple noted that they were "thrown right back into the real world" without the intermediate step of a halfway house, intensifying their adjustment.

The family has also faced personal challenges, as highlighted in the docuseries and Savannah's "Unlocked" podcast. Savannah, 28, recounted an experience drinking with her brother Chase, 29, at age 19 or 20, vowing never to do so again due to his behavior. Chase's struggles escalated after his parents' imprisonment, leading to heavy drinking and an incident in January where he was arrested for allegedly slapping a bar manager in Atlanta. While the bar employee chose not to press charges, Chase admitted on "The Chrisleys: Back to Reality" that he didn't "remember a lot" from that night and acknowledged hitting "rock bottom." He also reflected on taking their previous show, "Chrisley Knows Best," for granted, recognizing it as "the best job in the world" before its cancellation, along with its spinoff "Growing Up Chrisley," due to his parents' legal issues.

An emotional five-minute trailer for the new series, released on July 31, offers a raw glimpse into the family's current dynamic. It opens with a phone call between Savannah and her then-incarcerated father, where Todd assures her, "We will get through this... at some point, the truth is going to come out." Savannah candidly shares the family's struggles: "With my parents gone, our household is completely divided. I told my parents, I don’t know if it can ever be repaired, honestly." Chase also reflects on the impact of their original show, stating, "I don’t think people really understood how big Chrisley Knows Best was... We were filming one thing that was this happy life. Cameras go down, and we’re also fighting a fed case." The series promises to delve deep into these personal and familial struggles as the Chrisleys navigate their new reality.

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