The Truth About Todd Chrisley's Relationship With His Kids
Starring Todd Chrisley, "Chrisley Knows Best" premiered on the USA Network on March 11, 2014, and now the world knows of the crazy, fun-loving, often overbearing antics of the real estate mogul and his brood. The show, which debuted its seventh season in 2019, follows Todd; his wife, Julie; children Savannah, Chase, and Grayson; and his granddaughter Chloe as they navigate all the ins and outs of being a mega-rich southern family.
Since the show's premiere, fans of "Chrisley Knows Best" have found themselves entranced by the lives of Todd Chrisley and his family — more importantly, Todd's relationship with his kids. Though the hit reality show focuses mainly on his interactions with Savannah, Chase, and Grayson, the famous father has two older children from a previous marriage — Lindsie and Kyle.
While Lindsie and Kyle could be seen on "Chrisley Knows Best" during the show's early days, the two elder Chrisley kids no longer associate with the reality show — leaving many fans to wonder about Lindsie and Kyle's relationship with their dad. Here's an inside look at the Chrisley kids' respective relationships with their famous father — as well as Chase and Savannah's real feelings about their dad's seemingly overbearing and outspoken ways.
Todd Chrisley's VERY involved in Savannah's love life
So, does Chrisley really know best? It is the name of the show — and Todd Chrisley himself certainly seems to take it to heart. Just look at how vocal he is about daughter Savannah Chrisley's love life! That's right — this daddio has a lot of opinions, and he doesn't plan on keeping them to himself anytime soon.
In a June 2018 interview with "Access Live," hosts Kit Hoover and Melissa Peterman asked the reality television patriarch about Savannah's then-relationship with hockey star Nic Kerdiles. Todd responded, "[Julie and I] love him. He's a super nice guy. He is a very courteous, respectful young man who came to us to ask if he could date our daughter."
Sounds like Krediles definitely had Dad's approval — but what exactly does Savannah think about her dad's commentary on her love life? Well, apparently Todd doesn't really care what she thinks. "It's my business," he said. "It's my child. I'm going to comment on whatever I want to." Alrighty, then!
Todd Chrisley's oldest daughter is adopted
"Chrisley Knows Best" follows the hilarious antics of Todd Chrisley, wife Julie, children Savannah and Chase, and granddaughter Chloe. Todd's eldest daughter, Lindsie Chrisley, was also known to make appearances before permanently quitting the reality show in 2017.
Lindsie may be among the lesser-known of the Chrisley clan, but that doesn't mean she hasn't captured the attention of "Chrisley Knows Best" fans. In fact, she has her very own podcast with famous teen mom Kail Lowry where fans flock to stay updated on her life when she's not on the show — "Coffee Convos with Kail Lowry and Lindsie Chrisley." In a May 2018 episode, Lindsie revealed that she's adopted, though not in the way you might think.
"I'm from my dad's first marriage," Lindsie said. "His last three kids are from my dad and his wife on the show. So, my stepmom adopted me legally." Lindsie also provided some insight as to why she left the show for good, saying, "I kind of felt like an outcast. Even though they didn't make me feel that way intentionally — I just felt that way."
Todd Chrisley was not a fan of Chase's girlfriend
It would seem that Savannah Chrisley's love life isn't the only one Todd Chrisley feels comfortable enough to comment on! Chase Chrisley is in the line of fire, too — and this time, the reality television patriarch didn't have a glowing review to give of his child's former significant other.
In a May 2018 episode of "Chrisley Knows Best," Chase went to his famous dad to reveal his broken-heartedness over the dissolution of his relationship with his longtime girlfriend, Brooke Noury. Perhaps Chase was expecting some good ol' fashioned, loving, fatherly advice from his pops — but Todd isn't exactly the quintessential dad type. After all, this isn't "Full House"!
Todd had a lot to say about his son's breakup during his one-on-one interview. "My child, Chase, is broken-hearted over the fact that he's single from someone that none of us like," the famous father dished. "I'm not going to lie to you — that gives me great comfort." Tell us how you really feel!
Todd Chrisley knows he's a helicopter parent
By now, you've probably heard the term "helicopter parenting" a time or two. According to Parents, the term was first used in a 1969 book called "Parents & Teenagers" by teens who accused their parental units of "hovering over them like a helicopter." The term has made a comeback in recent years — even scoring a place in the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
Essentially, to be a "helicopter parent" is to be a tad overbearing in your parenting style. Merriam-Webster defines a helicopter parent as "a parent who is overly involved in the life of his or her child." If you think that sounds a lot like the parenting style of Todd Chrisley, well, you aren't alone. On his blog, he even admitted to his overbearing ways.
"Listen, I recognize that there are times when maybe I overstep some boundaries, but I think everyone knows it comes from a place of love," he wrote. Hey, at least he's self-aware.
Todd Chrisley's daughter called him her 'safe place' and her 'best friend'
Say what you want about Todd Chrisley and his family, but it's hard to deny that siblings Savannah and Chase Chrisley have some serious respect and love for their old man. While "Chrisley Knows Best" does a fantastic job at showcasing some of the hilarious antics of the Chrisley clan, it would appear that Todd and his family are a lot like the average American family — that is, if you don't count their riches and mansions.
On Father's Day 2018, both Chase and Savannah Chrisley took to their respective social media accounts to sing the praises of their beloved pops. "[My dad] is ALWAYS there to put a smile on our faces even when he is worn out and exhausted," Savannah captioned a cute childhood photo of herself with her father. "He's my safe place and my best friend."
Chase also had kind words to say about his famous father on Instagram. "You continue to teach me everyday and I'm truly blessed to call you my pops," he wrote.
Todd Chrisley teaches his kids the value of hard work
Fans of "Chrisley Knows Best" know that Todd Chrisley is a self-made millionaire who built his fortune to what it is from little-to-nothing. "[Julie and I] grew up in a very small, rural town," he said in the first extended trailer for "Chrisley Knows Best." "Now, our main home is 30,000 square feet."
Despite his rumored financial troubles, there's no doubt that Todd knows the value of hard work — and it seems that the famous reality patriarch is passing down that life lesson to his children. "When you commit to a job, you have to give 100%," he wrote in a May 2016 blog post. "It's your integrity that will take you far in this life — not a pretty smile."
Savannah Chrisley, who debuted her first clothing line on HSN in 2017, has certainly taken her dad's lesson to heart — and she has no problem acknowledging his hand in helping her. "My dad has been the biggest supporter of me throughout," she said in an interview about her designing venture. "He's my best friend, and without him, I couldn't have made it happen!"
Todd Chrisley was once estranged from his oldest son
While most episodes of "Chrisley Knows Best" focus mainly on Todd Chrisley, wife Julie, and kids Savannah, Chase, and Grayson, older episodes featured Todd's older children, Kyle and Lindsie, as well. However, neither Kyle nor Lindsie are still attached to the wildly popular reality show, leaving many people to wonder why.
For his part, Kyle Chrisley seems to have had no problem with going to the media to air his grievances with his father, sharing why exactly he chose to seemingly separate entirely from his famous family. According to a police report uncovered by Radar Online in 2014, Kyle Chrisley was fired from the reality show after threatening to kill his father while under the influence of drugs. But according to Kyle himself, he has since turned his life around. "I do not talk to my family but I wish them nothing but the best," Kyle told Radar at the time. "I have moved on with my life."
Todd Chrisley's granddaughter opened his eyes to the prevalence of racism
Though "Chrisley Knows Best" is known for showcasing the relationship between Todd Chrisley, his wife, and their children, fans have also come to know and love his adorable granddaughter, Chloe. The cute kid — who is the daughter of Todd's eldest son, Kyle, and his wife — often makes the rest of the Chrisley clan laugh with her adorable antics, and sometimes she even reveals herself to be an unexpected voice of reason.
Chloe's also had a deep impact on her whole family regarding race issues. According to Todd Chrisley, having a mixed-race granddaughter has opened his eyes to the harsh reality of racism in America, in part due to nasty comments some social media users share about the young tot.
"[Chloe] has literally changed our lives in so many different ways," he dished in a 2018 interview with People. "I am a white male [...] and [my family and I] had never dealt with racism. Now, we have learned that it's a very prevalent situation in this country."
Kyle Chrisley says he 'lied' about his dad, Todd Chrisley
In March 2017, Kyle Chrisley, Todd Chrisley's estranged son, spoke out against his father in an interview with "Good Morning America," claiming the reality television patriarch had "bragged" about evading taxes in Georgia by pretending to be a Florida resident.
However, when Todd and Julie Chrisley were indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2019 for tax evasion and other financial crimes, Kyle Chrisley came to his family's defense. "I've seen all the stories about my dad's indictment all over the internet," Kyle wrote in a Facebook post to fans. The eldest Chrisley son continued, "I know the interview I did bashing my dad OVER A YEAR AGO is being shared on social media. ... You guys don't have the facts and I need to set the record straight once and for all. Everything I said in my interview was a lie. These allegations against my dad are all LIES!"
Kyle Chrisley went on to say that his reported lies were the result of his battle with drug addiction, revealing that he's since become sober and plans to "stand as a united front" alongside his family.
Todd Chrisley's daughter Lindsie Chrisley accused him and her brother of extortion
A month before Todd Chrisley was indicted on charges of tax fraud, Lindsie Chrisley alleged that Todd and Chase Chrisley had threatened to release an alleged sex tape in which she is reportedly featured alongside a "Bachelor" star. In a July 2019 police report obtained by TMZ, Lindsie Chrisley claimed that her father and brother told her they'd release the private tape if Lindsie refused to lie about a particular "incident." According to TMZ, sources have alleged that the incident in question is related to Todd and Julie Chrisley's reported tax evasion.
Todd Chrisley denied his daughter's allegations — but not without accusing her of multiple extramarital affairs with two well-known "Bachelor" contestants. In a statement obtained by People, the "Chrisley Knows Best" star revealed, "It's heartbreaking and shameful that these kinds of accusations have to be aired in public. We have tried to keep Lindsie's extramarital relationships with Robby Hayes and Josh Murray private for her sake since August of 2016." Claiming that his daughter's allegations were "lies," he continued, "Although our hearts are broken, Lindsie is our daughter and we will always love her."
Todd Chrisley reconciled with son Kyle after years of turmoil
Following years of difficulty, Kyle Chrisley finally confirmed, in August 2019, that he'd sorted things out with father Todd Chrisley. In a lengthy Facebook post, Kyle acknowledged his past mistakes as well as his family's unwavering support. He shared, "Nine months ago, I went to my dad with an apology. His words were 'I love you always, and you are forgiven' and just like that I was welcomed back into his life with open arms. I will be forever grateful for his love [and] graciousness." Kyle also admitted to feeling incredible guilt about publicly trashing his father.
During an episode of "Chrisley Knows Best," Todd was filmed getting emotional over a phone call from Kyle. After agreeing to meet up with his son, Todd told wife Julie Chrisley he was eager to rekindle their relationship so they didn't lose any more time.
Clearly, the duo managed to work things out, with Kyle even posting a sweet Father's Day tribute to Instagram in 2021, gushing, "Thank you for never giving up on me and for always having my back."
Todd Chrisley is very involved in youngest Grayson's life
Take a look at young Grayson Chrisley's Instagram bio and one thing will immediately stick out — his father, Todd Chrisley, helps him run the account. Naturally, this is by design. During an episode of "Chrisley Knows Best," Todd and Julie Chrisley discovered a raunchy photo on their son's phone, with the dedicated patriarch reasoning, "She's the one who sent him the picture, so he didn't ask for it. But he did respond."
Although Grayson only sent a heart-eyes emoji back to the mysterious woman, Julie took the incident as proof Grayson was too young to have social media. It seems his parents eventually came around, though, since the Instagram is still active (but there isn't too much on it at the time of writing).
Life & Style magazine reported how, on the show, Todd has been reliably hands on with Grayson, whether he's accompanying his son on dates or teaching him how to shave and drive. The reality star was trying to be less controlling, however, realizing that it was sometimes better to wait until Grayson approached him for help rather than just offering it unprompted.
Lindsie Chrisley vowed to 'never' reconcile with her father
After a lengthy estrangement, it seemed Todd Chrisley and daughter Lindsie Chrisley were about to reconcile when the "Chrisley Knows Best" star posted a sweet message to Instagram about his daughter's divorce. Although Todd didn't name Lindsie, he expressed support for her and acknowledged he was keeping the podcast host in his thoughts. However, in a subsequent chat with Entertainment Tonight, Lindsie admitted she didn't feel her father's "intentions" were "pure."
The "Coffee Convos" co-host took issue with Todd speaking publicly about her, while behind the scenes he allegedly refuses to talk face to face. "There will never be a reconciliation," she confirmed. "I think that the most that anyone could ask for at this point is for everyone to go on with their lives as they see fit and to just leave the other side alone."
While speaking to Life & Style magazine, Todd hinted that he was still holding out hope they'd work things out someday. "I believe that God is the great healer and revealer and Lindsie is my daughter and I love her and I will love her till the day that I die," he stated simply.
Does Todd Chrisley have a favorite child?
Todd Chrisley isn't usually one to play favorites, as much as he jokes about doing so, but he might have revealed his star child on social media. Per TV Shows Ace, in an Instagram Story posted in March 2021, Todd shared a shot of Savannah Chrisley and Chase Chrisley but cropped his son out, captioning it, "Wondering which is the favorite child? — the favorite." However, in a previous Instagram post, Todd quipped that granddaughter Chloe Chrisley was his favorite, so it's really anyone's guess.
It's worth noting, though, that Savannah is just as obsessed with her dad, sharing in a 2020 Father's Day post on Instagram that they have "always" been "inseparable." The Sassy by Savannah founder added, "I thank God every day for giving me a father who has always been there and who has never wavered." She even credited Todd with helping kickstart her career too, telling People, "My dad has been the biggest supporter of me throughout." Evidently Todd isn't the only one playing favorites.