After nearly 18 months behind bars, Todd and Julie Chrisley—the once-glamorous stars of Chrisley Knows Best—are stepping back into the spotlight with a new message, renewed purpose, and a reality-TV comeback on the horizon. Their stunning release from federal prison, courtesy of a full presidential pardon by Donald Trump, has reignited national interest in the fallen reality-TV family, whose personal saga has taken more dramatic turns than the scripted show that made them famous.
In a special televised interview with Fox News host and former President Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump, the Chrisleys broke their silence for the first time since walking free. The interview aired Saturday, June 28, marking a remarkable turning point for the family. Flanked by their children, Savannah (27) and Grayson (19), Todd and Julie spoke with raw emotion about their incarceration, the divine intervention they believe led to their release, and their new mission beyond the cameras.
To fully appreciate the emotional weight of their release, it’s important to revisit the magnitude of their legal downfall. In 2022, Todd and Julie Chrisley were convicted of multiple federal crimes, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, tax evasion, and obstruction of justice. The charges stemmed from their use of fraudulent loans to swindle community banks out of more than $30 million and their attempts to cover up millions in unpaid taxes.
The couple’s once-charmed existence unraveled in court. Todd was sentenced to 12 years and Julie to seven. In January 2023, they began serving their sentences in separate federal prisons. Julie’s original release date was set for January 2028, and Todd’s was projected for April 7, 2032.
Yet just 17 months later, everything changed.
On May 27, 2025, Savannah Chrisley received a phone call she never expected—former President Donald Trump was on the line.
According to Savannah, Trump told her directly: “They’re going to be free and clean.” The next day, he signed an executive clemency order granting full pardons to both of her parents. A White House official confirmed the decision to USA TODAY shortly afterward, setting off a wave of reactions from political pundits, fans, and critics alike.
Todd Chrisley described the surreal moment he learned he had been pardoned while still inside his prison unit. “One of the officers came to me and said, ‘Are you good?’ I said, ‘As good as I can be.’ Then he said, ‘Todd, you just got pardoned. They sent me down here to make sure you’re OK.’ I said, ‘Well, they don’t need to be worrying about me now. Hell, if I’m pardoned, I’m great!’”
Julie shared a similarly emotional moment. “Savannah said, ‘He did it! He signed it!’ And I just started busting out crying. I said, ‘I’m getting out of here!’”
Throughout their interview with Lara Trump, Todd and Julie repeatedly credited God for orchestrating their release. “We owe thanks to God,” Todd said. “God touched President Trump’s heart. God led the people to advocate for us. I would pray every night that God would return me home to my wife and children. And He did that. So I’m grateful.”
It was clear that faith sustained both Todd and Julie during their darkest moments behind bars. Todd opened up about the emotional devastation of their first night apart after more than two decades of marriage. “When the lights went out, I literally cried myself to sleep because it was the first time Julie and I had ever been away from each other since we’d been married,” he said. “I’d never not been in that house when my kids woke up in the morning or went to bed at night.”
Although they were incarcerated in different facilities and could not communicate directly, Todd said he felt Julie’s presence every moment. “I thought of her every second of my day,” he said. “When I hugged her the first time after our release, it was like I was home in my heart spiritually.”
While the legal system had turned against her parents, Savannah Chrisley had become one of their most visible and vocal defenders. Over the past year, she launched public campaigns, appeared on news outlets, and posted emotional updates to social media—all aimed at drawing attention to what she believed was an unjust outcome.
Savannah’s advocacy caught the attention of the Trump family. Her ongoing communications with Lara Trump and others in Trump’s inner circle eventually culminated in the unprecedented act of clemency.
The family’s public gratitude was clear in the interview, not just to Trump but to everyone who stood by them. “Those that walked away from me are the first ones knocking at the door again,” Todd remarked, acknowledging the fickle nature of fame.
Now free, the Chrisleys say they’re committed to turning their experience into a platform for change—starting with America’s prison system.
Julie spoke passionately about the injustices she witnessed behind bars. “I have a dear friend in there who’s 77 years old. Unless God intervenes, she’s going to die in there. She could be any of our grandmothers.”
“There are so many young women in there who are mothers, who got these crazy sentences and had never been in trouble in their life. I’m not walking away from this. That’s a pledge I’ve made to them and to myself.”
The couple is reportedly exploring partnerships with legal advocacy groups and nonprofit organizations that focus on prison reform, sentencing review, and the reintegration of nonviolent offenders.
Despite their time away and the very public disgrace, the Chrisleys have no intention of retreating from the public eye. In fact, they’re already laying the groundwork for a media comeback.
“We’re coming back to television,” Todd told Lara Trump. “It’s amazing that those who walked away from me are the first ones knocking at the door again.”
While details about the new show remain scarce, Todd hinted that the series will document the family’s move back to South Carolina, where they’re preparing to launch a new hospitality business—possibly a boutique hotel or luxury retreat.
Fans of Chrisley Knows Best may find the new series more grounded, less flashy, and more personal than its predecessor—reflecting a family forever changed by adversity, and perhaps, redemption.
Unsurprisingly, the Chrisleys’ release and Trump’s involvement have stirred significant public reaction. Supporters have cheered the move as a long-overdue correction of harsh sentencing for nonviolent financial crimes. Detractors argue it’s an example of celebrity privilege and political favoritism, especially as thousands of other incarcerated individuals with similar or lesser offenses remain behind bars.
Critics also point to Trump’s pattern of high-profile pardons—such as Joe Arpaio, Roger Stone, and Paul Manafort—as evidence of using the presidential pardon power for personal or political advantage. In this case, the intersection of fame, family connections, and a loyal media network made the Chrisleys unusually visible candidates for clemency.
As of now, Todd and Julie are focused on rebuilding their lives and repairing their reputation. Their path forward is likely to include both public-facing projects and private healing, particularly within their family, which has endured intense strain over the past few years.
Whether their renewed fame will be accepted or rejected by the public remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the Chrisleys are determined not to waste their second chance.
“We’ve been through hell,” Todd said. “But sometimes, God lets you go through the fire to show others that He can bring you out.”
The Chrisleys’ saga has always been dramatic—whether on-screen or off. But their story is no longer just about wealth and reality-TV stardom. It’s about loss, survival, advocacy, and, perhaps, redemption.
Only time will tell whether Todd and Julie Chrisley will remain public figures with a purpose or fade back into a culture quick to judge and quick to forget. For now, they’re home, they’re together, and they’re ready to start again.
And in their own words: they’re grateful. And they’re free.
