For years, Todd Chrisley lived his life as if every moment were a scene-stealing performance. Loud, opinionated, impeccably dressed, and unapologetically confident,

the patriarch of Chrisley Knows Best became one of reality television’s most recognizable figures. But behind the sharp one-liners and polished perfection,

Todd now reveals there was a moment—long before his conviction—that signaled an ending he never expected to arrive the way it did.

In an exclusive joint interview with People, alongside wife Julie Chrisley and daughter Savannah Chrisley, Todd opens up about a revelation that redefines the legacy of Chrisley Knows Best. As the family prepares for their new Lifetime series, The Chrisleys: Back to Reality, Todd reflects on the USA Network hit that made them famous—and the surprising truth that he was already planning his exit.

“Chrisley Knows Best was a wonderful show, and it still is,” Todd, 57, says thoughtfully. “You can tell by how many times it still airs in reruns. I’m grateful for what it brought us. But to whom much is given, much is required.”

Those words, spoken with the clarity of hindsight, carry a deeper weight now. Todd explains that as the show approached its milestone 10th season, he had quietly made a decision: that season would be his last.

“I had already started winding down,” Todd reveals. “This was going to be my final contract with USA Network. I was working on what I believed would be my last season.”

The reason, he says, wasn’t burnout or declining ratings—it was authenticity.

Todd admits that the family had reached a point where the version of themselves shown on television no longer aligned with the reality they were living behind closed doors. “We had to present ourselves one way on camera, while off camera we were living something very different,” he says. “And I wasn’t going back to that.”

According to Todd, the decision didn’t go over well with the rest of the family. Everyone, from producers to loved ones, pushed back. “They were all fighting me,” he recalls. “Telling me, ‘You have to do another season.’ And I kept saying, ‘No, I’m not. You’ve all been doing this as long as I have. If you want to keep going, go ahead—but I’m done.’”

Then Todd delivers the line that reframes everything that followed.

“And then,” he says quietly, “God kind of said, ‘Okay, I’ll fix that for you. None of you can do it.’”

What came next is well documented. In June 2022, Todd and Julie Chrisley were convicted on federal charges including tax evasion and bank fraud. The verdict sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. The carefully maintained empire surrounding the Chrisley name collapsed almost overnight. All related projects—including spin-offs like Growing Up Chrisley, What’s Cooking with Julie Chrisley, and even Todd’s planned E! dating series Love Limo—were abruptly canceled.

The final season of Chrisley Knows Best aired quietly in March 2023, just two months after Todd and Julie reported to prison. What was once a flagship reality series ended without celebration, without closure, and without its central figures watching from home.

Todd and Julie, married since 1996, were originally sentenced to a combined 19 years behind bars. For fans, it felt like the definitive end of an era. Yet, in a twist few could have predicted, their story took another dramatic turn. On May 28, President Donald Trump issued full pardons for both Todd and Julie Chrisley. They were released the following day.

Now, with their freedom restored, the family is stepping back into the public eye—this time under very different circumstances.

“I think now,” Todd says, “the show Savannah and Chase and the rest of the family have started with Lifetime—I’m going to be watching it just like the fans are.”

Perhaps most surprising of all, Todd reveals that he hasn’t previewed a single episode. “We’ve seen no clips,” he says. “We’re getting the same shock value everyone else is.”

And that, Todd believes, is precisely what will set this new chapter apart.

“What’s going to be different now is the authenticity that truly was not allowed to be shown on Chrisley Knows Best,” he explains. “Savannah has opinions—and she’s making them known. Chase does too. And this time, they didn’t have me standing in the corner giving them the side eye.”

With a grin, Todd adds, “So we’ll see how well they were raised.”

Savannah, for her part, is unapologetically clear about why this new series exists. For her, it was never about fame—it was about exposure. “For me,” she explains, “filming this show was about putting everything on TV so people could really see what happened.”

She says the goal was to peel back the layers of the criminal case and reveal what she believes were serious flaws in the prosecution. “We wanted to show who was working with the government, who wasn’t, and how there was prosecutorial misconduct,” Savannah says. “When you hear ‘United States of America versus the Chrisleys,’ there’s nothing that can prepare you for that.”

Todd Chrisley has always been a larger-than-life figure—someone who commanded attention whether you admired him or not. To his children, he was equal parts protector and disciplinarian. To viewers, he was a blend of southern charm, brutal honesty, and theatrical flair. His sprawling Georgia home wasn’t just a backdrop—it was a stage where lessons were taught, arguments exploded, and family bonds were tested in full view of millions.

Yet beneath the bravado was a man who felt the weight of expectation, scrutiny, and responsibility. Todd prided himself on principles, even when they made him unpopular. “If you’re going to do it, do it right,” was more than a catchphrase—it was a creed.

Now, looking back, Todd’s revelation that he was already planning his “last season” feels almost prophetic. What he envisioned as a graceful exit turned into a forced ending—one shaped by courtrooms instead of cameras.