After Years Without Speaking, Todd and Julie Chrisley Reveal What Kept Their Love Alive
Todd and Julie Chrisley Reveal the ‘Hardest Part’ of Being Apart for Over Two Years in Prison
“I remember everything about our relationship — those memories kept me going,” Todd Chrisley shared as he reflected on two years of silence between him and his wife, Julie.
For the first time since their release, Todd and Julie Chrisley are opening up about the most painful chapter of their lives — the time they spent apart behind bars. Appearing on the October 16 episode of Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe, the Chrisley Knows Best stars shared what it was really like to endure more than two years without speaking while serving prison sentences for fraud charges.
Two Years of Silence
From January 2023 until May 2025, Todd, 56, and Julie, 52, lived in separate federal facilities, unable to speak directly to each other. “We were able to email,” Julie recalled, “but the email was very sporadic. Sometimes it would take two or three days to get one message.”
Their communication was nearly non-existent — a painful reality for a couple who had spent almost three decades working, parenting, and filming side by side. “We did not speak,” Julie said simply.
Love Tested by Isolation
Love Tested by IsolationJulie explained that while she and Todd were used to managing family matters as a team, prison forced them into isolation not just from each other, but from their children.
“We’re parents,” Julie said. “Even adult kids still need their parents. We’ve always handled everything together — it’s always been us against them. So not being able to talk, to plan, to say, ‘How do we handle this situation?’ — that was the hardest part.”
Her situation was especially difficult. Unlike Todd, whose facility allowed access to a cell phone, Julie’s communication was restricted to a 10-minute phone call per day. “You have to decide which child you’re going to talk to — who needs you the most that day,” she said.
But what hurt most wasn’t the distance from her children. It was the absence of Todd. “He’s my person,” Julie said softly. “Not having your person there when you’re having a bad day, a good day, a birthday, or a holiday — those are big deals for us. That was the hardest part.”
Memories That Kept Him Alive
Todd’s voice trembled with emotion as he described how he survived the separation. “I give glory to God for this,” he said. “My mind is so strong, and I remember everything about our relationship — our first date, our first kiss, the first movie we saw together. I even kept the ticket stubs.”
Those memories became his lifeline. “They kept me going,” he said.
During one of their daughter Savannah Chrisley’s visits, she unknowingly brought him a small gift that meant everything — a magazine containing a sample of Julie’s perfume. “I remember taking that and rubbing it on my pillow so I could smell it every night,” Todd said. “Then I put it on the collar of my jacket so I could smell it all day. I never felt separated from her because spiritually and emotionally, she was with me every second.”
Faith in the Darkest Place
Even at his lowest point, Todd held on to his faith. “I would pray, ‘God, I know there’s a purpose behind this pain. Just help me live long enough to see it,’” he said.
That faith, coupled with his unwavering love for Julie, carried him through until May 2025, when President Donald Trump granted the couple full pardons, ending their two-and-a-half-year ordeal.
A Love That Survived Prison Walls
Today, as they rebuild their lives, the Chrisleys say they are stronger — not because they avoided hardship, but because they endured it together, even when they couldn’t speak.
For Todd and Julie, love wasn’t proven by words or touch, but by memory, faith, and the quiet belief that someday, somehow, they would find their way back to each other.
“She was still with me,” Todd said. “Even when I couldn’t hear her voice — she was there. Always.”
