Julie Chrisley is home.
If you haven't been keeping up with the whirlwind that is the Chrisley family, you might still picture Julie in a drab olive jumpsuit at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. For a long time, that was the reality. People were constantly searching for updates, wondering if she’d ever actually get that seven-year sentence shaved down.
But things changed fast.
The story of what happened to julie chrisley isn't just a legal timeline anymore; it’s a full-blown redemption arc that involves a presidential signature and a giant croissant costume. Honestly, if you wrote this as a script for a soap opera, the producers would probably tell you to tone it down because it’s too unbelievable.
The Shocking Turn: A Presidential Pardon in 2025
The biggest update—the one that shifted everything—happened in May 2025.
After years of Savannah Chrisley hitting the pavement, visiting the White House, and talking to anyone who would listen about "prison reform" and "injustice," her efforts actually paid off. On May 27, 2025, President Donald Trump officially signed full pardons for both Todd and Julie Chrisley.
It was a Tuesday.
By Wednesday morning, Julie was walking out of the Lexington facility. Her son, Grayson, was the one who picked her up. Imagine that car ride home after more than two years apart.
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The pardon didn't just shorten her sentence; it effectively wiped the slate clean. The $17 million in restitution? The years of supervised release? That’s all gone. The government basically said, "You're done," and let them return to their lives in Nashville.
What Happened to Julie Chrisley’s Legal Battle Before the Release?
Before the pardon, the legal situation was a mess.
An appeals court had actually tossed out Julie’s original sentence in June 2024. They found that the judge had made a mistake—a "math error," basically—linking her to bank fraud that happened before she was even involved in the family business.
Everyone thought she was coming home early then. Savannah was posting hopeful videos. Fans were celebrating.
But then, in September 2024, Judge Eleanor Ross decided to stick to her guns. During a resentencing hearing in Atlanta, she gave Julie the exact same 84 months (seven years). It was a gut punch. Julie sat in that courtroom, apologized to her kids, and wept.
"I cannot ever repay my children for what they have had to go through, and for that I am sorry," Julie said during the hearing.
It looked like she was headed back to Kentucky for the long haul. There were even rumors that the judge increased her supervised release term as a "vindictive" move because of the family’s public criticisms of the court.
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Then came 2025, and the political winds shifted everything.
Life in 2026: The Masked Singer and "The New Normal"
So, where is she now?
As of January 2026, Julie Chrisley is back on your television screen.
She and Todd made their big public "debut" following prison on Season 14 of The Masked Singer. They competed as "The Croissants." Yes, you read that right. They performed "Jailhouse Rock," which is either the most self-aware thing they've ever done or the most "Todd" thing ever.
They were unmasked in the season premiere, and while they didn't win the trophy, the appearance served as a signal to the world: the Chrisleys are back in business.
Adjusting to Reality
It hasn't been all glitter and singing competitions, though.
Julie has been open about how weird it feels to be back. She recently told reporters that she’s been "second-guessing" herself every day. You spend two years told when to eat, sleep, and move, and then suddenly you're in a $750 makeup spree at Sephora for your daughter Chloe.
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- Julie is living in Nashville again.
- She’s filming a new docuseries called The Chrisleys: Back to Reality.
- She’s dealing with the reality of her kids having grown up without her.
Chloe is 13 now. She’s got a "teenage personality" that Julie is just now learning to navigate. Savannah, who stepped up as the legal guardian while her parents were away, has had to hand back the reins, which is a weird dynamic for any family to handle.
The Lingering Questions
People still ask if the Chrisleys were actually innocent.
The pardon doesn't technically mean the jury was "wrong" in 2022; it means the President exercised his power to forgive the legal penalty. The original charges—conspiracy to commit bank fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion—stemmed from a time when the family was living in the Atlanta suburbs. Prosecutors argued they used fake bank statements to get $36 million in loans.
While the legal books are closed on the prison time, the public opinion remains split. Some see them as victims of an overzealous justice system, while others see them as wealthy reality stars who caught a lucky break.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the Chrisley journey, here is what you should keep an eye on:
- Watch the New Show: The Chrisleys: Back to Reality is where the real "tea" will be spilled. Expect Julie to talk extensively about the conditions in the Lexington facility.
- Follow Savannah’s Podcast: Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley remains the primary source for unfiltered family updates.
- Check the South Carolina Move: Todd has hinted at moving the family back to Charleston. If they leave Nashville, it signals a permanent break from their "prison era" life.
The saga of what happened to julie chrisley is proof that in the world of celebrity, nothing is ever truly final. One year you're in a cell; the next, you're wearing a pastry costume on national TV. It’s been a long road from the 2019 indictment to 2026, but Julie seems determined to make this "new start" count.