Todd and Julie Chrisley celebrate ‘being together’ for holidays after prison
Chrisleys Return Home for the Holidays After Presidential Pardon
Nashville, TN – For the first time in two years, Todd and Julie Chrisley are celebrating the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with their family, a reunion made possible by a presidential pardon granted by former President Donald Trump in May. The couple, known for their reality television show “Chrisley Knows Best,” had been serving time in federal prison after being convicted in 2022 of bank fraud and tax evasion.
A Family’s Resilience Tested
The Chrisleys surrendered to separate federal prisons in January 2023, facing sentences of 12 years for Todd and seven years for Julie. Their conviction and subsequent imprisonment captivated the public, largely due to the family’s prominence through their USA Network show, which documented their often-lavish lifestyle and close-knit family dynamics. The case sparked debate about the fairness of the charges and the severity of the sentences, with supporters arguing the couple were victims of a targeted prosecution.
“It’s been a really tough couple of years for our family,” said Savannah Chrisley, the couple’s daughter, in a recent interview. “But we never lost hope. We knew that we had to fight for Mom and Dad, and we’re so grateful that President Trump recognized the injustice of their situation.”
Savannah Chrisley spearheaded a public and political campaign for her parents’ release, attending conservative events and working through formal clemency channels. Her efforts culminated in the presidential pardon, which cut short their sentences by several years. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, approximately 1,470 individuals received presidential pardons and commutations during the Trump administration, a figure significantly higher than previous administrations.
Finding Joy in Simple Traditions
Now back home in Nashville, the Chrisleys are focused on rebuilding their lives and cherishing the simple joys of family. “The thing that matters the most is us being together again,” Todd Chrisley shared in a joint interview with Fox News Digital. “Christmas is a big time for Julie, and she does all the decorating and all that stuff, so she’s already started that process. So we’re just happy to be back and to be back doing what we do and with our family.”
Julie Chrisley echoed her husband’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of being together during the holiday season. “Christmas is a hard time when you’re not with your family, and so it’s just a blessing that we’re together,” she said. The family plans to continue their traditional holiday celebrations, including a feast featuring turkey, dressing, macaroni and cheese, and sweet potatoes.
The Chrisleys’ experience highlights the profound impact of incarceration on families. A 2021 report by the Prison Policy Initiative found that over 5 million children have a parent who is incarcerated, and these children are more likely to experience poverty, trauma, and behavioral problems.
Looking Ahead: New Beginnings and a Cooking Show
Beyond the joy of being reunited for the holidays, the Chrisleys are looking towards the future. They are currently filming a new season of their reality show, “The Chrisleys: Back to Reality,” on Lifetime, offering viewers a glimpse into their lives as they navigate their newfound freedom. Julie Chrisley is also set to launch a new cooking show, fulfilling a long-held dream and responding to years of fan requests.
“I’m excited for her to have that, because that’s what the fans have asked for years,” Todd Chrisley said. “So now she’s doing what she loves to do.”
The couple also revealed plans to eventually relocate to Charleston, South Carolina, but will first spend time in Texas while filming their shows. They envision a future where their entire family, including their mother, Nanny Faye, will live together on a sprawling property.
A Changed Perspective
The Chrisleys acknowledge that their time in prison has profoundly changed their perspective on life and family. “I think our children grew up,” Julie Chrisley said. “They were forced to grow up while we were gone. And I think that’s not a bad thing that they had to grow up.”
Todd Chrisley agreed, adding, “I don’t know that I would have ever been able to have let go until I was forced to let go. And now I see my adult children in such a different light. I see where some of them had struggles with certain things and then the others kind of just exploded, and you saw everything that we had poured into that child.”
The Chrisleys’ story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of family. Their journey from conviction to pardon and back home for the holidays serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope and healing are possible.
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Todd and Julie Chrisley are happy to be home for the holidays for the first time in two years since surrendering to prison.
The Chrisleys, who rose to fame with their hit reality show “Chrisley Knows Best,” were convicted in 2022 of federal bank fraud and tax evasion. Todd, 56, and Julie, 52, who have maintained their innocence, were sentenced to 12 and seven years, respectively, and reported to separate federal prisons on Jan. 17, 2023.
The couple served 28 months in prison before being released in May after they received pardons from President Donald Trump.
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During a joint interview with Fox News Digital, Todd and Julie shared what they were most looking forward to celebrating this Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“The thing that matters the most is us being together again,” Todd said. “And Christmas is a big time for Julie, and she does all the decorating and all that stuff, so she’s already started that process. So we’re just happy to be back and to be back doing what we do and with our family.”
Todd and Julie Chrisley are celebrating their first holiday season at home after they were released from prison following pardons from President Donald Trump. (Julie Chrisley Instagram; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“To be able to be together,” Julie agreed. “Christmas is a hard time when you’re not with your family and so it’s just a blessing that we’re together.”
The reality stars, who have been married since 1996, share sons Chase, 29, and Grayson, 19, and daughter Savannah, 28. Todd is also father to daughter Lindsie, 36, and son Kyle, 34, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Teresa Terry.
Ahead of Christmas last year, Savannah, who fought tirelessly to get her parents pardoned, opened up about spending the holiday without them for the second year in a row.
WATCH: TODD AND JULIE CHRISLEY CELEBRATE BEING ‘TOGETHER AGAIN’ WITH FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAYS AFTER PRISON TIME
In a December 2024 episode of her “Unlocked” podcast, Savannah and her grandmother Nanny Faye Chrisley had an emotional conversation about how they were coping with the absence of Todd and Julie during the holiday season.
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“Obviously, mom and dad are not here, shocker,” Savannah said.
“But hopefully they will be next year,” Nanny Faye told her. “Our hearts are heavy, but we’re not going to let the devil win and the people that hate us, we’re going to march right on down that road. I tell you children, nothing’s forever. This shall pass, and we will be better for it because God don’t put stuff on us that he don’t get us out of.”
Savannah previously opened up about spending the holidays without her parents. (Vivian Zink/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
Savannah, who became the legal guardian for her younger siblings Chloe and Grayson during her parents’ incarceration, revealed that they would be taking an international trip for Christmas in lieu of their traditional celebration.
“I learned last Christmas — I did Christmas for the kids, I cooked a whole meal all of that and friends came over you came over — it was great, we enjoyed the time, food was great, but also, Mom and Dad aren’t here, so trying to pretend everything’s the same really is not what’s in the best interest for everybody,” Savannah said. “So this year, I asked the kids, I said, ‘Do you guys want gifts or do you want to go somewhere?’ They decided they wanted to go somewhere.”
Meanwhile, Nanny Faye explained that she would be celebrating Christmas with her other son Randy. Nanny Faye shared Todd and Randy with her late husband Gene Raymond Chrisley, who died at the age of 77 in 2012.
Savannah shared that Trump called her to tell her that the paperwork had been signed after he pardoned Todd and Julie. (Savannah Chrisley/Instagram)
Savannah led a relentless public and political campaign for her parents’ pardons. During their incarceration, Savannah met with officials in Washington, attended conservative events including CPAC, and worked through formal clemency channels.
She also used her social media platforms and podcast to bring national attention to what she described as injustices in her parents’ case.
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Todd speaks as his daughter Savannah looks on during a news conference on Friday, May 30, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (George Walker IV/AP Photo)
In February, she revealed that she was “going through the proper channels” to seek a presidential pardon for the couple from Trump.
On the day the pardon was announced, she revealed on Instagram that Trump had personally called her to inform her the pardon paperwork was signed.
While speaking with Fox News Digital, Todd shared details about the call that he had with Trump after he and Julie were released from prison.
WATCH: TODD AND JULIE CHRISLEY SHARE WHETHER THEY WILL START NEW HOLIDAY TRADITIONS AFTER PRISON TIME
“He congratulated us on coming home,” Todd said. “He said, ‘Well you look great.’”
“He’s always got those one-liners,” the reality star added. “President Trump has been wonderful to our family, as the world knows now. And he was just very congratulatory. He was very kind and I extended my gratitude to him, and he said, ‘I just want you to have a wonderful life.’”
Following their return from prison, Julie told Fox News Digital that she and Todd would be hosting their family at their home in Nashville for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.
“I can’t wait,” she said. “Can’t wait.”
Julie shared some of the items on her Thanksgiving menu. (USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
Todd teased that Julie will be hosting a new cooking show that he said will “air next year.” Julie previously hosted the webseries “What’s Cooking With Julie Chrisley” in 2019.
“I’m excited for her to have that, because that’s what the fans have asked for years,” Todd said. “So now she’s doing what she loves to do.”
In November 2024, Savannah revealed on Instagram that Julie had helped plan the family’s Thanksgiving dinner from prison, including writing a shopping list for her.
The couple made their return to reality TV in the Lifetime show “The Chrisleys: Back to Reality,” which premiered in September.
While speaking with Fox News Digital, Julie shared some of the dishes that would be on the family’s dinner table this Thanksgiving.
“You’re in the South, so you have to have turkey and dressing, you have to have macaroni and cheese, you have to have sweet potatoes, you know, the whole bit,” she said.
Todd and Julie said that their family would be continuing with their usual traditions. ( Dennis Leupold)
The couple told Fox News Digital that they did not plan on starting any new traditions this year but instead, they would continue with their usual customs. Todd noted that he had already adhered to his practice of making his holiday shopping list in October.
“I think our holidays are gonna stay the way that they always have,” Todd said. “We love Christmas, and I love to give to our children and to Julie and to my mother, because God knows if you give Julie one thing that my mother doesn’t get, it’s a whole other issue.”
“Right,” Julie agreed with a laugh.
“So I don’t know that we’re changing any of that,” Todd said.
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“I truly believe it’s savoring the moments this year, you know, because we missed two, and so I think that’s what it’s gonna be about,” Julie added.
WATCH: TODD CHRISLEY REVEALS WHAT TRUMP TOLD HIM AFTER PRESIDENTIAL PARDON
While speaking with Fox News Digital, Todd and Julie reflected on how their approaches to parenting had “absolutely” changed since their time in prison, noting that their children had to learn to adapt to life without them.
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“I think our children grew up,” Julie said. “They were forced to grow up while we were gone. And I think for that you relinquish some control and realize that you know what, they’re gonna be okay. You know, they survived it. And I think that’s a good thing that’s come of this.”
The Chrisley family posed for season one of their USA show in 2014. (Tommy Garcia/USA Network)
“I think that wasn’t a bad thing that they had to grow up,” she added.
“I don’t know that I would have ever been able to have let go until I was forced to let go,” Todd admitted. “And now I see my adult children in such a different light.”
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“I see where some of them had struggles with certain things and then the others kind of just exploded, and you saw everything that we had poured into that child,” he continued. “I think also we now see each of our children as individuals. They’re not just our children, they’re individuals.”
Todd and Julie previously shared their plans to eventually make Charleston, South Carolina their family’s permanent home. However, the couple, who both hail from South Carolina, told Fox News Digital that they will be making a detour by first relocating to the Lone Star State.
“We are going to probably build our forever compound in Charleston, South Carolina,” Todd said. “But we are going to move to Texas, and that’s where we will pick up our filming of the show and the other shows that we’re gonna be doing.”
Todd said that he envisions their children living in the “forever compound” with them as well as Nanny Faye.
“I want our home there — Chase, Savannah, Grayson,” he said. “My mother’s always wherever we are. And Chloe’s a given, she’s with me wherever I go. But my mother has said she’s living to be 150, so you know she’s already planning what she wants to build.”