Todd and Julie Chrisley are happy to be home for the holidays for the first time in two years after surrendering themselves in prison.
chrysalis, Who rose to fame with his hit reality show “Chrisley Knows Best,” was convicted of federal bank fraud and tax evasion in 2022. Todd, 56, and Julie, 52, who have maintained their innocence, were sentenced to 12 and seven years, respectively, and sent to separate federal prisons on January 17, 2023.
The couple spent 28 months in prison before being released in May after receiving a pardon 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.
Todd said, “The thing that matters most is us being together again.” “And Christmas is a big time for Julie, and she does all the decorating and stuff, so she’s already started that process. So we’re just so happy to be back and doing what we do and doing it with our family.”
“To be able to live together,” Julie agreed. “Christmas is a difficult time when you’re not with your family and so it’s a blessing that we are 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, who he shares with his ex-wife Teresa Terry.
Before Christmas last year, Savannah, who fought tirelessly to get her parents to forgive her, opened up about spending the holidays without them for the second year in a row.
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On a December 2024 episode of her “Unlocked” podcast, Savannah and her grandmother Nanny Faye Chrisley had an emotional conversation about how they were dealing with Todd and Julie’s absence during the holiday season.
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“Apparently, Mom and Dad aren’t here, shocking,” Savannah said.
“But hopefully they’ll be there next year,” Nanny Faye told her. “Our hearts are heavy, but we are not going to let the devil and those who hate us win, we are going to move straight down that path. I tell you children, nothing is forever. It will pass, and we will be better for it because God has not placed such a burden on us that He cannot bear us out.”
Savannah has 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 of her younger siblings Chloe and Grayson during their parents’ incarceration, revealed that they will be going on an international trip for Christmas in lieu of their traditional celebration.
“I learned last Christmas — I made Christmas for the kids, I cooked a full meal and friends came over, you came over — it was great, we enjoyed the time, the food was great, but at the same time, mom and dad aren’t here, so trying to pretend everything is the same is really not in everyone’s best interest,” Savannah said. “So this year, I asked the kids, I said, ‘Do you guys want a gift or do you want to go somewhere?’ “They decided they wanted to go somewhere.”
Meanwhile, Nanny Faye reveals that she will be celebrating Christmas with her other son, Randy. Nanny Faye shares Todd and Randy with her late husband Gene Raymond Chrisley, who died in 2012 at the age of 77.
Savannah shared that Trump called her to tell her that the paperwork was signed pardoning Todd and Julie. (Savannah Chrisley/Instagram)
Savannah led a tireless public and political campaign for the pardon of her parents. During his imprisonment, Savannah met with officials in Washington, attended conservative events including CPAC, and worked through formal clemency channels.
He also used his social media platforms and podcast to draw national attention to the injustice of his parents’ case.
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Todd speaks while looking at his daughter Savannah 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 ask Trump for a presidential pardon for the couple.
On the day the pardon was announced, he revealed on Instagram that Trump had personally called him to inform him that the pardon paperwork had been signed.
Speaking with Fox News Digital, Todd shared details about the call he had with Trump after he and Julie were released from prison.
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“They congratulated us on coming home,” Todd said. “He said, ‘Well you look great.'”
“He always has one-liners,” the reality star said. “President Trump has been wonderful to our family, as the world now knows. And he was very congratulatory. He was very gracious and I expressed my gratitude to him, and he said, ‘I just want you to have a wonderful life.'”
After returning from prison, Julie told Fox News Digital that she and Todd will host 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 host a new cooking show, which he said will “air next year.” Julie previously hosted the webseries “What’s Cooking with Julie Chrisley” in 2019.
Todd said, “I’m excited to get him, because fans have asked for this for years.” “So now she’s back 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 returned to reality TV on the Lifetime show “The Chrisleys: Back to Reality”, which premiered in September.
Speaking with Fox News Digital, Julie shared some of the dishes that will 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, everything,” she said.
Todd and Julie said that their family will continue their usual traditions. (Dennis Leupold)
The couple told Fox News Digital that they don’t plan to start any new traditions this year, but will instead continue with their usual customs. Todd noted that he had already followed his practice of making his holiday shopping list in October.
Todd said, “I guess our holidays will be the same as they always are.” “We love Christmas, and I love giving to my kids, Julie and my mom, because God knows if you give Julie one thing that my mom doesn’t get, that’s a different issue.”
“Right,” Julie agreed, laughing.
“So I don’t know that we’re changing any of it,” Todd said.
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Julie added, “I really believe this year it’s going to be about enjoying those moments, because we missed two, and so I think that’s what it’s going to be about.”
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Speaking with Fox News Digital, Todd and Julie reflected on how their approach to parenting has “absolutely” changed since being in prison, given that their children have had to learn to adapt to life without them.
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“I think our kids have grown up,” Julie said. “They were forced to grow up while we were gone. And I think it makes you give up some control and realize that you know, they’ll be OK. You know, they survived it. And I think it’s a good thing that it happened.”
The Chrisley family pose for the first season of their USA show in 2014. (Tommy Garcia/USA Network)
“I guess it wasn’t a bad thing that they had to grow up,” he said.
Todd admitted, “I don’t know that I would have ever been able to let go unless I was forced to let go.” “And now I look at my adult children in a different light.”
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He added, “I’ve seen some of them struggle with some things and then explode with others, and you saw everything we put into that kid.” “I think now we see each of our kids as an individual. They’re not just our kids, they’re individuals.”
Todd and Julie previously shared their plans to make Charleston, South Carolina, their family’s permanent home. However, the couple, who are both from South Carolina, told Fox News Digital that they would first take a detour by relocating to the Lone Star State.
“We’re probably going to build our permanent campus in Charleston, South Carolina,” Todd said. “But we’re going to go to Texas, and that’s where we’re going to be filming the show and other shows that we’re going to do.”
Todd said he envisions his children living on the campus “forever” with them, as well as nanny Faye.
“I want my home there – Chase, Savannah, Grayson,” he said. “Wherever we are, my mom is always with us. And Chloe is my mom, wherever I go, she’s with me. But my mom said she’ll live to be 150, so you know she’s already planning what she wants to do.”
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