Honestly, if you told a fan back in 2014 that the Chrisley family would end up in federal prison—and then get pardoned by a President—they probably would’ve laughed you out of the room. At its peak, Chrisley Knows Best TV was the ultimate "guilty pleasure" reality show. It featured Todd Chrisley, a self-proclaimed real estate tycoon with a personality as sharp as his suits, and his wife Julie, the Southern belle who seemingly kept the chaos at bay.
The show ran for ten seasons. That’s a lifetime in reality television. Most shows burn out after three or four, but the Chrisleys had this weird, magnetic pull. People tuned in for the "Todd-isms"—those weirdly specific, often hilarious rules Todd enforced on his kids. But underneath the perfectly manicured lawns of their Nashville (and previously Atlanta) mansions, a massive legal storm was brewing.
The Fall from Grace: What Went Wrong?
The reality of Chrisley Knows Best TV wasn’t just about parenting mishaps and Nanny Faye’s gambling trips. In 2022, the world watched as Todd and Julie were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion. Prosecutors proved they had swindled banks out of $30 million in fraudulent loans to fund their "lavish lifestyle."
It was a mess.
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Todd was sentenced to 12 years; Julie got seven. For a family that built a brand on being "blessed" and morally upright, the fall was spectacular. The USA Network pulled the plug, and for a while, it looked like the Chrisley era was dead.
Then came May 2025.
In a move that polarized the internet, Donald Trump issued full presidential pardons for both Todd and Julie. They walked out of prison after serving about two and a half years. Some fans were thrilled; others were absolutely livid, claiming the couple "bought" their way out or benefited from political connections.
The 2026 Reality: Life After Prison
You might think they'd go quiet after such a public scandal. Nope. The Chrisleys don't do "quiet." Since their release, they’ve been everywhere. They even competed on The Masked Singer as "The Croissants" (which is just peak Chrisley humor, let's be real).
The New Show: Back to Reality
If you’re looking for the original show, it’s gone. But in late 2025, Lifetime launched a spiritual successor: The Chrisleys: Back to Reality. It’s a very different vibe.
- Savannah is the lead. She’s no longer just the pageant queen daughter; she spent the prison years raising her younger brother Grayson and niece Chloe.
- The tone is raw. Unlike the original show, which Savannah recently admitted was heavily scripted, the new series shows the family fighting.
- Family fractures. There’s a huge rift now. Chase is often at odds with Savannah, and some family members have reportedly been "excluded" from the inner circle after alleged betrayals during the trial.
Why the Chrisley Brand Still Sticks
Why do we still care? Honestly, it’s the resilience. Or the audacity. Maybe a bit of both. Savannah Chrisley has turned herself into a criminal justice advocate, using her podcast Unlocked to highlight prison conditions. Whether you believe her or think it’s a PR stunt to rehab her parents' image, people are listening.
Todd and Julie are currently navigating a "new normal" in Nashville. They’re back on their podcast, Chrisley Confessions 2.0, talking about everything from $750 makeup hauls for Chloe to the "lip" she gives them now that she's a teenager. It’s the same dynamic, just with more gray hair and a lot more legal baggage.
What to Watch Now
If you want to keep up with the family in 2026, here’s the roadmap:
- The Chrisleys: Back to Reality (Lifetime): This is the main event. It follows the immediate aftermath of the pardon and the family's attempt to rebuild.
- Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley: Best for the "behind-the-scenes" truth-bombs that the TV editors might cut.
- Chrisley Confessions 2.0: Where Todd and Julie do most of their talking. Expect a lot of "God is good" and "we've been vindicated" talk.
The legacy of Chrisley Knows Best TV is complicated. It’s a story of wealth, greed, incarceration, and a very public redemption arc. Whether they actually "know best" is still up for debate, but they certainly know how to stay in the headlines.
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Actionable Insights for Fans:
If you're looking for the classic episodes, they are still streaming on Peacock. However, for the most accurate, current-day information, skip the old reruns and head to Savannah’s social channels. The family is currently filming a new season for Lifetime and is expected to release a book detailing their "prison experience" later this year. Keep an eye on official announcements from Bunim/Murray Productions, as they are the ones handling the family's current media slate.