In one of reality television’s most shocking downfalls, the Chrisley family has been forced to endure a painful separation that has deeply affected each of them.
As Todd and Julie Chrisley, stars of Chrisley Knows Best, continue to serve lengthy prison sentences for fraud and tax-related crimes, their children have stepped into the spotlight
to share their heartbreak, resilience, and struggle to navigate life without their parents.
In January 2023, Todd began his 12-year sentence at FPC Pensacola, a minimum-security prison in Florida, while Julie reported to the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky to serve seven years. Their convictions, stemming from a June 2022 guilty verdict for bank and wire fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy charges, brought a sudden and devastating halt to their once-lavish public lives.
But the real story has unfolded in the aftermath—within the heartbreak and burden left behind for their children, who have used podcasts and social media to share emotional glimpses of their private pain.
Savannah: The Reluctant Matriarch
Perhaps the most vocal among the Chrisley children has been Savannah Chrisley. The former Growing Up Chrisley star quickly found herself thrust into an unfamiliar role—legal guardian to her 16-year-old brother Grayson and 10-year-old niece Chloe, whom Todd and Julie had adopted in 2017.
“I come home Tuesday, and I have custody of a 16-year-old and a 10-year-old,” Savannah said on her Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley podcast just before Thanksgiving 2022. “We spend our first holiday not as a family. I’ve never been away from my family for the holidays.”
Her candid reflections capture the emotional and logistical chaos she’s endured. With the weight of parenting young children and grappling with her own grief, Savannah admits the challenge of explaining to them the gravity of the situation.
“How do you teach two younger children who aren’t fully developed yet to understand this?” she asked her listeners. “It’s a really, really difficult thing.”
Despite her fears and insecurities, Savannah continues to draw strength from her parents—even from afar. In a powerful January 2023 episode, she read aloud a message from Todd that reflected his spiritual focus and fatherly encouragement: “Fall in love with the real Savannah … the one that radiates grace and compassion, not the one the world wants to see.”
Still, the burden weighs heavily. In one vulnerable confession, Savannah admitted, “I am not my mother. She is the kindest, most amazing person I have met. If I was half of her, I would be OK.” Yet in trying to fill her mother’s shoes, she’s discovered strength she didn’t know she had.
Grayson: A Teenager Torn
While Savannah tries to remain composed, her younger brother Grayson has been visibly struggling. The teenage son, who once appeared on television as the easygoing youngest child, has found the reality of his parents’ absence jarring and painful.
“Last night, Gray had a breakdown,” Savannah revealed in late January 2023. “He’s trying to process my parents and the situation that they’re in and how that’s not the image he wants to have of them.”
In a particularly haunting quote from a later Unlocked podcast episode, Grayson delivered a heartbreaking truth:
“To me, it’s worse than them dying. Because they’re here, but they’re not here. So it’s just time that’s being wasted.”
His words reflect the dissonance many children of incarcerated parents feel—the hollow pain of knowing your loved ones exist, but remain inaccessible.
Chase: Quiet Support and Steadfast Faith
Unlike his sister Savannah, Chase Chrisley has taken a quieter approach but has shown solidarity through his faith. Shortly after his parents’ imprisonment began, he posted a Bible verse from Matthew 1:23: “God is with us.” The message, though simple, reflected his spiritual leaning and personal effort to stay grounded amid crisis.
Chase’s presence behind the scenes has provided emotional backing to his siblings, particularly his fiancée, Emmy Medders. In one poignant conversation, Savannah admitted, “Until I know [my parents] are going to be there, I can’t get married. I can’t have a kid.”
Julie’s Fear and Determination
While imprisoned, Julie Chrisley has tried to maintain her composure and stay busy to cope. According to Savannah, her mother mailed over 30 days’ worth of letters before reporting to prison—emotional diary-like entries filled with daily reflections, fears, and the pain of being separated from her family.
“She’s just staying busy,” Savannah said during a May 2023 podcast. “She’s trying to do anything and everything—take classes, be first at-bat—everything known to man that she can do, she does.”
Still, the absence of Todd, her husband of over 25 years, has taken a visible toll. Julie’s fear and loneliness are constant themes in her letters, exposing the vulnerability behind her typically composed public persona.
Todd’s Messages from Behind Bars
Even in prison, Todd has continued to try and uplift his family. His emails and messages, filled with spiritual lessons and gentle encouragement, have become a source of comfort for his children. He continues to serve as a guide, urging them to remain true to themselves and find grace in adversity.
“Remember,” he wrote to Savannah, “to gain the world, you lose your soul—and then what do you have?”
Holding On to Each Other
Despite the separation and legal chaos, the Chrisley children have united in their pain. Whether posting a loving caption—“Will forever fight for this smile ❤️,” Savannah wrote alongside a photo of her mother—or sharing anonymous grief through Instagram quotes, their voices reveal a family clinging to hope.
In March 2023, Savannah reposted a quote that read: “Who will I call when something good happens? Happiness isn’t the same without you here.” She tagged her father’s account, underscoring the emotional vacuum left in his absence.
As the months stretch on, the Chrisley kids continue to speak out—not just to give fans an update, but perhaps to process their own pain and provide a record of their journey. The saga of the Chrisley family is no longer one of flashy cars, comedic reality TV antics, or extravagant Southern living. It is now one of heartbreak, growth, resilience—and the enduring love between children and their parents, even when prison walls separate them.
