The Chrisley family is set to make a highly anticipated return to television with a new reality series, "The Chrisleys: Back to Reality." This marks their first appearance on screen since "Chrisley Knows Best" concluded two years ago, following the legal woes of patriarch Todd Chrisley and matriarch Julie Chrisley. The couple faced sentencing for tax evasion and bank fraud, but their legal troubles were ultimately resolved through a high-profile presidential pardon. Now, the family aims to share their story, offering an intimate look at their lives post-incarceration.

The new series will debut with a special two-night television event on Lifetime, airing Monday, September 1, and Tuesday, September 2. Each night will feature a two-hour episode beginning at 8/7c. Following the premiere, subsequent back-to-back episodes are scheduled for Tuesday, September 9, leading up to the season finale on Tuesday, September 16.

"The Chrisleys: Back to Reality" will feature many familiar faces alongside new additions. Todd and Julie Chrisley will return, joined by their children Savannah, Chase, and Grayson, as well as their adopted granddaughter Chloe. Fan-favorite Nanny Faye is also slated to bring her distinctive wit and warmth to the show. For the first time, Julie’s parents, Harvey and Pam, will be part of the cast. However, Todd’s older children from a previous marriage, Lindsie and Kyle Chrisley, will not be participating in this new project.

An emotional five-minute trailer for the series was released on July 31, providing a candid glimpse into the family’s current dynamic. The trailer opens with a phone call between Savannah and her father, Todd, who was still incarcerated at the time. Todd reassures 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 family's struggles, 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 Chrisley reflects on the immense popularity of their previous show, "Chrisley Knows Best," noting, "My dad’s this insane human. I think it definitely made good TV." He also highlights the dichotomy of their lives, adding, "We were filming one thing that was this happy life. Cameras go down, and we’re also fighting a fed case."

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 reduced in 2023 amidst ongoing appeals. A significant turning point occurred on May 27, 2025, when President Donald Trump officially announced their pardons during a phone call with the Chrisley children. As Trump stated in the recorded call, later shared on X, "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."

Despite their release and the much-anticipated return home, Todd and Julie have openly discussed the unexpected challenges of adjusting to normal life. In the July 23 episode of their "Chrisley Confessions 2.0" podcast, they shared their post-prison experiences. Julie, 52, mentioned that she and other incarcerated women shared a "general consensus" about their struggles. Todd, 56, interjected, confirming, "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 further explained the mental shift, noting that while in prison, there was a certain simplicity due to limited options. "There’s very little you can do because you’re in prison… And people told me this when I first got there, you can’t live out there and in here at the same time because it’ll literally run you crazy," she recounted, adding that "the longer you’re there, the more removed you become to the world." The couple also spoke about the emotional toll of being separated from their children—Savannah, Grayson, Chase, and Chloe—and how survival instincts eventually took over. Julie stated, "The longer that people are away from their kids, as crazy as it sounds — because it’s a double edged sword — the easier it becomes because you get into your own routine… I had to just watch out for me. I had to take care of me. I had to make sure that I was good, as good as I could be. Physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and that’s all I could really do." Having been "thrown right back into the real world" without a halfway house or probation officer, their adjustment has been a challenging crash course in reality. Todd reiterated his gratitude to President Trump for the pardon that ultimately led to their freedom.