When Todd and Julie Chrisley sat down with Lara Trump for their first full interview since receiving their presidential pardon, it wasn’t just a media appearance —

it was a deeply emotional reckoning. The once-glamorous couple, famous for their sharp humor and extravagant lifestyle on Chrisley Knows Best, opened up about what it truly felt like

to go from fame and fortune to isolation and fear, and finally, to unexpected redemption. Their conversation with Lara Trump on Fox News Channel wasn’t about celebration —

it was about survival, faith, and the heavy cost of second chances.

The Moment That Changed Everything

Julie Chrisley vividly recalled the day she learned her life was about to change forever. “Most of the news you get in prison is bad news,” she told Lara. “So when I heard something good — I didn’t even believe it.” When her daughter, Savannah, called to tell her that President Trump had officially signed their pardon, Julie couldn’t hold back her emotions. “I just burst into tears,” she said softly. “Everyone around me thought something was wrong. I couldn’t even speak. I just hung up. I was so nervous, I didn’t know how to react.”

The moment was surreal for Julie, who had spent years behind bars at a Kentucky facility, serving time for tax evasion and fraud. “I kept saying to myself, ‘Is this real? Is God finally setting me free?’” she recalled. Her voice trembled as she described the reaction of her fellow inmates — confusion at first, followed by an outpouring of hugs and disbelief. “When I told them, ‘I’m getting out of here,’ the whole room just went quiet. Then everyone started crying with me.”

Todd’s Quiet Shock

While Julie’s reaction was pure emotion, Todd’s response was more understated — at least at first. The charismatic patriarch of the Chrisley clan, known for his confident swagger, admitted he didn’t believe the news when it reached him in Pensacola. “Someone stopped me and said, ‘Todd, you’ve been pardoned,’” he told Lara Trump, chuckling. “And I said, ‘Yeah, okay,’ and just kept walking. I thought it was some kind of cruel joke.”

It wasn’t until a corrections officer confirmed the news that reality began to sink in. “The officer said, ‘You’re free. The president signed your pardon.’ And I remember thinking, ‘They don’t need to worry about me now — if that’s true, I’m great.’”

But the enormity of that moment hit him later. “When I saw Julie again for the first time in twenty-eight months, it was like the world stopped. When I hugged her, I felt like I was home. We’d both changed — and if we hadn’t, those years would’ve been wasted.”

Faith, Family, and Forgiveness

Both Todd and Julie spoke openly about the role faith played during their imprisonment. “God touched President Trump’s heart,” Todd said emotionally. “Every night, I prayed that God would bring me home to my children, and He did. I’ll never take that for granted again.”

Julie agreed. “There were nights when I thought I’d never see my family again. But I learned that even in the darkest places, you can still find God’s light.”

As the couple reflected on their reunion with their children — Savannah, Chase, Grayson, and their granddaughter Chloe — it was clear that family had become their guiding force. Savannah, in particular, became the heart of their support system, fighting tirelessly for her parents’ release. She spoke at the Republican National Convention, appealing directly to President Trump to grant clemency. “Savannah is our hero,” Julie said proudly. “That girl kept our family together when everything was falling apart.”

Todd, visibly emotional, added, “I told Savannah the day I came home, ‘You were the man of the house while I was gone.’ She’s tougher than most people know, but I also saw how much this took out of her. She carried all of us.”

Redemption and Reflection

When Lara asked what they had learned from their ordeal, Todd didn’t hesitate. “I regret not paying more attention to the people around us,” he admitted. “When you’re successful, you start trusting the wrong people — lawyers, advisors — and you stop asking the right questions. I wish I’d slowed down, read every line, and not assumed that everyone had our best interests at heart.”

Julie’s reflection came from a place of quiet faith. “Sometimes God breaks you down to rebuild you stronger,” she said. “We thought we were being punished, but we were being prepared. Our old platform showed a perfect life. Now, we want to show a real one — full of grace, forgiveness, and truth.”

A New Beginning

The couple acknowledged that their family dynamic had changed forever. Prison stripped away their fame, fortune, and public image — but it also gave them something unexpected: perspective. “We used to think success meant money and followers,” Todd confessed. “Now, success is waking up beside the woman you love, breathing fresh air, and being at peace. That’s success.”

Julie agreed, adding with a gentle smile, “When you’ve folded laundry in prison, a messy kitchen doesn’t seem so bad anymore.” The audience laughed, but her words carried the weight of experience.

Facing Public Judgment

Lara Trump didn’t shy away from the tougher questions. “There are still people who believe you got special treatment,” she said. “How do you respond to that?”

Todd’s expression grew serious. “We can’t control what people think,” he replied. “We lost everything — our show, our freedom, our privacy. At some point, you stop trying to change public opinion and start living with integrity. People can believe what they want. The truth will stand on its own.”

Julie added, “We’ve learned that forgiveness — even for those who judged us — is the only way forward. Bitterness just keeps you in chains, even when the gates are open.”

The Road Ahead

As for the future of Chrisley Knows Best, the couple hinted that a return to television isn’t off the table — but if they do come back, it won’t be the glossy, picture-perfect version of their past. “If the cameras roll again,” Todd teased, “it’ll be on our terms. No filters, no pretending — just the truth.”

Julie nodded. “We want to share what really happened — the lessons, the heartbreak, the redemption. It’s not about fame anymore. It’s about purpose.”

A Message of Hope

As the interview drew to a close, Lara asked what they wanted to say to those who stood by them through the storm. Todd leaned toward the camera, his voice breaking. “To everyone who prayed for us, wrote to us, believed in us — you’re part of this miracle. You kept our faith alive when everything else was gone.”

Julie placed her hand over his. “And to anyone who thinks you’ll never make it through your darkest night — hold on. There’s always a dawn.”

In that moment, it was clear this wasn’t just another celebrity comeback story. The Chrisleys’ journey — from public downfall to divine redemption — has transformed them. Their smiles are softer, their words more grounded, and their faith unshakable.

They may have once built a life on luxury and laughter, but now, their story is about something far more powerful — grace, endurance, and the kind of forgiveness that only comes after walking through fire.