The Chrisley family, well-known for their reality television presence, is making a much-anticipated return to screens with a new series titled The Chrisleys: Back to Reality. This marks their first television appearance since their previous show, Chrisley Knows Best, concluded two years prior. The hiatus followed the highly publicized legal troubles of family patriarch and matriarch, Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were sentenced for tax evasion and bank fraud. Their journey back to public life has been significantly shaped by a high-profile presidential pardon, which has allowed them to move past their legal challenges and share their story from a new perspective.

The new series is set to premiere as 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, airing at 8/7c. Following this premiere, subsequent back-to-back episodes will air on Tuesday, September 9, culminating in the season finale on Tuesday, September 16.

Viewers can expect to see many familiar faces from the original series. 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 back to the show. A new addition to the family's on-screen presence will be Julie's parents, Harvey and Pam. However, Todd's older children from a previous relationship, Lindsie and Kyle Chrisley, will not be participating in this new project.

An emotional five-minute trailer for The Chrisleys: Back to Reality was released on July 31, offering fans a candid look into the family's current dynamics. The trailer opens with a phone call between Savannah and her father, Todd, who was incarcerated at the time. Todd reassures Savannah, stating, "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 reflects on the profound impact of her parents' absence, observing, "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 provides insight into the family's past and present, acknowledging the scale of Chrisley Knows Best. He notes the dichotomy of their lives, stating, "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 initially 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 following ongoing appeals. The pivotal moment in their legal ordeal occurred on May 27, 2025, when President Donald Trump officially announced their pardons during a phone call with the Chrisley children. Trump expressed, "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 statement later shared on X.

Upon their release, Todd and Julie Chrisley found that adjusting to normal life presented unexpected challenges. During the July 23 episode of their podcast, "Chrisley Confessions 2.0," they shared their experiences. Julie, 52, noted a consensus among women she was imprisoned with that life outside can be "kind of weird." Todd, 56, elaborated, asserting that "Life is rougher than prison life" from an emotional and psychological standpoint, despite the horrific physical conditions of incarceration. Julie explained that prison offered a sense of mental simplicity due to limited choices, leading to a gradual detachment from the outside world. She also discussed the painful reality of being separated from their children—Savannah, Grayson, Chase, and Chloe—and how survival instincts eventually kicked in. This meant focusing on personal well-being: "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." Unlike many ex-inmates, the Chrisleys were not required to go to a halfway house or report to a probation officer, which Julie believed threw them "right back into the real world." Both Todd and Julie reiterated their gratitude to President Trump for his intervention, which ultimately led to their freedom.