The Chrisley family is making a highly anticipated return to television with a brand-new reality series titled The Chrisleys: Back to Reality. This new show marks their first appearance on screen in two years, following the conclusion of their previous hit series, Chrisley Knows Best. The hiatus was prompted by the legal troubles of patriarch Todd Chrisley and matriarch Julie Chrisley, who were sentenced for tax evasion and bank fraud.

Todd and Julie Chrisley were initially convicted of multiple charges, including bank and wire fraud and tax evasion, and were sentenced in November 2022 to a combined 19 years in prison. Their sentences were subsequently reduced in 2023 following ongoing appeals. However, a pivotal moment arrived in May 2025 when President Donald Trump granted them full presidential pardons. This high-profile intervention was announced during a phone call with the Chrisley children on May 27, 2025, with Trump stating, “It’s a terrible thing, but it’s a great thing, because your parents are going to be free and clean.” Their release and subsequent pardons have set the stage for the family to share their story “from the inside out.”

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

The new series will feature many familiar faces from the original show, including Todd and Julie Chrisley, alongside their children Savannah, Chase, and Grayson, as well as adopted granddaughter Chloe. Fan-favorite Nanny Faye will also return, contributing her distinctive wit and warmth. New additions to the cast include Julie’s parents, Harvey and Pam, who will be appearing on the show for the first time. Notably absent from the project are Todd’s older children from a previous marriage, Lindsie and Kyle Chrisley, who are not participating.

An emotional five-minute trailer for the series was released on July 31, offering fans an 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. Todd assures Savannah, “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 profound impact of her parents’ absence, revealing, “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 Chrisley also reflects on the immense popularity of Chrisley Knows Best, remarking, “I don’t think people really understood how big Chrisley Knows Best was. My dad’s this insane human. I think it definitely made good TV.” He further elaborates on the stark contrast between their on-screen life and their private struggles: “We were filming one thing that was this happy life. Cameras go down, and we’re also fighting a fed case.”

Since their release, Todd and Julie Chrisley have been vocal about the unexpected challenges of readjusting to normal life. In the July 23 episode of their “Chrisley Confessions 2.0” podcast, the couple opened up about the difficulties they’ve encountered. Julie, 52, shared a consensus among women she was imprisoned with, finding that life outside felt “kind of weird.” Todd, 56, interjected, explaining, “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 expanded on this, noting that incarceration offered a sense of “mental simplicity” due to limited choices and a growing detachment from the outside world. She also spoke about the heartbreak of being away from their children, Savannah, Grayson, Chase, and Chloe, explaining that survival instincts eventually made it “easier” as she established a routine, though her love and longing remained constant. The couple emphasized that without a halfway house or probation, they were “thrown right back into the real world,” requiring a steep learning curve for adjustment.

The series also delves into Chase Chrisley’s personal struggles, particularly his heavy drinking after his parents’ imprisonment. Savannah Chrisley, 28, recounted an early negative experience drinking with Chase on her “Unlocked” podcast’s September 2 episode, stating, “I remember drinking with Chase one time. I think we were, like, I don’t know, 19 [or] 20, and I was like, ‘Never again.’ I will never drink with him again.” This decision stemmed from her awareness of his behavior when intoxicated. Julie Chrisley, also on the podcast, chose not to elaborate on Chase’s past, although Savannah alluded to its public nature, referencing an incident in January where Chase, 29, was arrested in Atlanta for allegedly slapping a bar manager. Though he was released on a $10,000 bond and the employee opted not to press charges, Chase admitted on The Chrisleys: Back to Reality that he didn’t “remember a lot” from that night and insisted he “wouldn’t slap somebody.” He acknowledged hitting “rock bottom” during that period of heavy drinking, explaining he “wasn’t setting any boundaries” for himself. Chase also reflected on his past taking Chrisley Knows Best for granted, calling it “the best job in the world” before his parents’ incarceration and the subsequent cancellation of both Chrisley Knows Best and its spinoff, Growing Up Chrisley.

As the Chrisley family navigates their new reality, The Chrisleys: Back to Reality continues to air on Lifetime, with subsequent episodes offering further insight into their journey and ongoing adjustments.