If you’ve been following the Chrisley family saga, you know it’s been a total rollercoaster. One minute they’re showing off their massive Nashville mansion, and the next, they’re swapped into prison jumpsuits. But things changed fast in 2025. After months of Savannah Chrisley campaigning for her parents, Julie Chrisley was released from prison following a full presidential pardon from Donald Trump on May 27, 2025.
She’s out. Honestly, the photos of her first few days back were kind of a shock to everyone.
For years, Julie was the polished, blonde matriarch on Chrisley Knows Best. She was the one holding the family together while Todd was... well, being Todd. But the "after" version of Julie Chrisley is someone who looks and sounds significantly different. Between the physical changes and a lingering health scare involving her lungs, the Julie Chrisley before and after prison comparison is pretty stark.
The Physical Shift: From Platinum Blonde to Natural Roots
The first photos of Julie after her release in May 2025 went viral for one reason: her hair. Gone was the expensive-looking, salon-perfect platinum blonde. Instead, she was spotted in Nashville with much darker hair and visible gray roots.
She looked human. Real.
👉 See also: Why Taylor Swift People Mag Covers Actually Define Her Career Eras
Todd actually joked on their Chrisley Confessions 2.0 podcast that he "thought about going back to prison" when he first saw her natural brunette look. Kind of a typical Todd thing to say, right? Julie, for her part, told People magazine that she just didn’t have a choice behind bars. She used box dye from the prison commissary for about a year and a half before finally giving up and letting it grow out.
But don't expect the "natural" look to last forever. By June 2025, fans spotted her at a Target in Nashville, and she was already back to her signature blonde shade. She’s definitely trying to reclaim that part of her old identity.
Health Struggles Nobody Expected
It wasn't just about the hair, though. Prison takes a toll on the body that a makeover can't fix.
During her first podcast appearances in the summer of 2025, Julie revealed she’s struggling with a lung condition. She mentioned that she often finds herself gasping for air or struggling to catch her breath. According to her and Todd, the conditions at FMC Lexington in Kentucky—where she served her time—were less than ideal. They’ve been vocal about "black mold" and "asbestos" being the culprits.
✨ Don't miss: Does Emmanuel Macron Have Children? The Real Story of the French President’s Family Life
Whether or not the Bureau of Prisons agrees (they don't), the reality is that Julie has been seeing a pulmonary specialist to figure out why she’s still struggling. It's a heavy reminder that while the legal battle ended with a pardon, the physical consequences of two years in a federal facility might stick around for a while.
Life Before the Fall: The $30 Million Debt
To understand why this change matters, you have to look back at the "before." Julie wasn't just a reality star; she was the silent partner in a financial empire that the government claimed was built on lies.
The couple was convicted of:
- Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Wire fraud
- Tax evasion
They allegedly used fake documents to get $30 million in loans and then hid their Chrisley Knows Best earnings to avoid paying the IRS. Before the trial, Julie’s life was all about luxury—designer bags, high-end skincare, and the best Nashville had to offer. When she reported to prison in January 2023, that life vanished instantly.
🔗 Read more: Judge Dana and Keith Cutler: What Most People Get Wrong About TV’s Favorite Legal Couple
The 2024 Resentencing Drama
Before the pardon, there was a glimmer of hope that didn't quite pan out. In June 2024, an appeals court actually vacated Julie’s original seven-year sentence. They found a legal error in how her "loss amount" was calculated. Basically, they couldn't prove she was involved in the fraud as early as 2006.
Savannah was thrilled. Everyone thought she was coming home early.
But then came September 25, 2024. Julie stood before Judge Eleanor Ross, hoping for a reduction to five years. It didn't happen. The judge basically said that even if the math changed slightly, Julie was still a "core part" of the scheme and lacked remorse. She handed back the same 84-month sentence. Julie went back to Kentucky, and for a few months, it looked like she’d be there until 2032.
What’s Next: Back to Reality TV?
Now that the pardon has cleared their records, the Chrisleys are already leaning back into the spotlight. In early 2026, Julie and Todd even popped up on The Masked Singer as "The Croissants." Yeah, that actually happened.
They also have a new show in the works, The Chrisleys: Back to Reality. Julie has even hinted at a cooking show where she might share some of the recipes she adapted while she was incarcerated. It’s clear they aren't planning on living a quiet life.
Key Takeaways from Julie’s Journey:
- The Pardon changed everything: Without the May 2025 pardon, Julie would still be in Kentucky.
- Health is a priority: Her lung condition is a major storyline for her right now.
- Appearance matters: While she embraced the "prison look" briefly, she’s back to blonde and looking more like her old self.
- Restitution remains: Even with a pardon for the time served, the financial fallout of a $4.7 million restitution order (down from $17.8 million) is a long-term hurdle.
If you're following Julie's recovery and transition back to public life, the best thing to do is keep an eye on her health updates. The pulmonary specialist visits will likely determine how much she can actually film for her new shows. If you're interested in the legal side, you can look up the official clemency grants on the Department of Justice website to see the exact terms of the 2025 pardons.