The Chrisley family, well-known for their hit reality series Chrisley Knows Best, is making a highly anticipated return to television with a brand-new series titled The Chrisleys: Back to Reality. This new show marks their first on-screen appearance in two years, following a tumultuous period that saw Todd and Julie Chrisley sentenced for tax evasion and bank fraud. Now, after a high-profile presidential pardon, the family is prepared to share their story and navigate the complexities of life post-incarceration.

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. While their sentences were reduced in 2023 amid ongoing appeals, their path to freedom was ultimately secured in May 2025. President Donald Trump intervened, announcing their pardons during a phone call with the Chrisley children on May 27, 2025. Trump conveyed his well wishes, stating, “It’s a terrible thing, but it’s a great thing, because your parents are going to be free and clean.”

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The Chrisleys: Back to Reality is set to premiere with a two-night television event on Lifetime, beginning Monday, September 1, and continuing on Tuesday, September 2. Each night will feature a two-hour episode starting at 8/7c. Following the premiere, back-to-back episodes will air on Tuesday, September 9, culminating in the season finale on Tuesday, September 16.

The series will feature many familiar faces, including Todd and Julie Chrisley, their children Savannah, Chase, and Grayson, and adopted granddaughter Chloe. Fan-favorite Nanny Faye will also return, bringing her distinctive wit and warmth to the show. New to the cast are Julie’s parents, Harvey and Pam. Notably, Todd’s older children from a previous relationship, Lindsie and Kyle Chrisley, are not participating in this new project.

An emotional five-minute trailer for the show was released on July 31, offering fans a raw and intimate look into the family’s current dynamics. The trailer opens with a phone call between Savannah and her father, who was still incarcerated at the time, with Todd reassuring her, “We will get through this. I don’t know how it’s going to end, but at some point, the truth is going to come out.”

Savannah candidly shares the challenges, stating, “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 previous show and their legal battles, noting, “We were filming one thing that was this happy life. Cameras go down, and we’re also fighting a fed case.”

Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times

Since their release, Todd and Julie have openly discussed the unexpected challenges of readjusting to normal life. During the July 23 episode of their “Chrisley Confessions 2.0” podcast, Julie shared a consensus among former inmates that life outside can be unexpectedly difficult. Todd elaborated, stating, “Life is rougher than prison life. I mean, that’s a sad thing to say because it is so horrific, the conditions that you’re there for but that’s from a physical standpoint, but from an emotional and psychological standpoint, it is harder dealing with day to day.”

Julie explained that while incarcerated, there was a certain mental simplicity due to limited choices and detachment from the outside world. She highlighted how survival instincts took over regarding their children, evolving into a routine that, while not diminishing their love or longing, allowed them to focus on personal well-being. Unlike many who transition through a halfway house, the Chrisleys were granted full pardons, immediately thrusting them back into the real world without the oversight of a probation officer. This direct re-entry has made their adjustment a challenging “crash course in reality,” as Julie described.