Julie Chrisley may be best known for being real estate mogul Todd Chrisley's wife - but
there's more to the reality mama than her marriage to the star of Chrisley Knows Best.
From surviving breast cancer to keeping her famous family's heads out of the clouds, here's
a look at the untold truth of Julie Chrisley.
"When we started, we had nothing.”
“What, you wanna go back to that?”
“No, no, no.”
Anyone who has seen an episode of the show certainly knows the Chrisley family is financially
secure. So, it might come as a surprise to learn that the lavish life Todd and Julie
enjoy today is entirely different than the life Julie is rumored to have lived as a child.
"Life is pretty perfect for the Chrisleys right now.”
“See, there you go, jinxing us."
A source told Radar Online,
"Julie claims she has family money, but all you have to do is look at [her parents'] trailer
to know the truth about where she came from."
"We grew up in a very small, rural town, and now our main home is 30,000 square feet."
While Julie herself has remained mum about her early years, it's safe to say the mansion
she and Todd live in now is a far cry from her childhood home.
As fans of Chrisley Knows Best are well aware, the show has seen the Chrisley family go through
plenty of changes. On Season 4, viewers watched as the family packed up their bags and moved
from Atlanta, Georgia to Nashville, Tennessee. According to Realtor Dot Com, Julie bought
the family's new Nashville residence in 2016 for $1.6 million. Writing about the big move
on the show's blog, Todd revealed,
"We LOVE both places and are so lucky to call two of the greatest cities in America our
home."
But it seems Julie actually prefers one city over the other. She told Style Blueprint,
"Atlanta will always be home. This is where we have raised our children. No matter where
we go in this world, we always find our way back home."
Julie has proven herself to be a strong-willed wife and mother on Chrisley Knows Best. But
this reality star is much stronger than you might think.
"Never did I think that we would ever face breast cancer in our family, until March of
2012 when Julie was diagnosed."
In 2012, two years before the show made its debut, Julie was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She made a full recovery, but things could have ended up much worse for the Chrisley
matriarch. According to her interview with The Tennessean, the reality star almost didn't
get tested for breast cancer at all. As she explained, it was Todd who pushed her to get
a mammogram after two of their friends were diagnosed with cancer. Julie told the outlet,
"I did it to appease him so he would shut up and leave me alone."
After a biopsy revealed breast cancer, a doctor recommended a lumpectomy. But Julie opted
for a double mastectomy, citing research showing lower recurrence rates. She said,
"I had a 6-year-old. I had to do whatever I had to do to be around for my kids."
"I don't know that any of us would have made it if we didn't have you.”
“Love you."
Julie knows her husband may be an acquired taste for some. But for her, Todd's antics
are just a standard part of her day-to-day life.
Whether he's disciplining his children, driving around town, or simply eating dinner with
the family, Todd always has something to say - and he doesn't mince words. And while his
over-the-top personality may make some people clutch their pearls, Julie is well-adjusted
to her husband's eccentric ways. She said on the show,
"The best thing about being the wife of Todd Chrisley is there's never a dull moment. Todd
does something crazy all the time. [I've] just become so used to it that I don't even
think about it."
Fortunately, Julie has proven herself able to match Todd's signature attitude and sass,
often outwitting her husband at a moment's notice.
"Julie I'm gonna give you that one. I'll give you that all day."
While Julie has certainly captured the hearts of fans all across the world with her no-nonsense
attitude and caring nature, it took her some time to fall in love with herself and her
looks.
"I could eat that grape and put on five pounds and he's eating enough for…”
“A village."
During one particular Season 6 episode of the show, Julie even took offense at Todd
buying her a dress, eventually revealing her insecurities about her weight. She confessed,
"I am not where I want to be with my weight, and I'm fighting an uphill battle."
"You look fine. I mean I like, you know, some junk in the trunk."
"If that's intended to make me feel better, it doesn't."
During a 2018 interview with People magazine, the star revealed that she had recently lost
20 pounds - saying she'd never felt better. She explained,
"If we're being completely honest, everyone can say it's not about the weight per se,
or how you look, but I'm a 45-year-old woman. Dropping some weight makes me feel better
about myself because I know that I look better, and I'm being more healthy. It's just good
all the way around."
Julie might seem to have a perfect life on Chrisley Knows Best, but offscreen, the star
found herself in a scandal that fans definitely didn't see coming.
"Where did you hear that from?”
“You!"
As reported by the Associated Press, both Julie and Todd were indicted by the state
of Georgia on tax evasion charges in August 2019. But in an Instagram post, Todd promised
fans he and Julie were innocent of any legal wrongdoing, writing,
"Not only do we know we've done nothing wrong, but we've got a ton of hard evidence and a
bunch of corroborating witnesses that proves it."
While the Chrisleys were certainly familiar with living in the public eye, this spotlight
was particularly harsh. The state of Georgia later dropped the charges against Todd and
Julie in 2019, after the couple agreed to pay nearly $148,000 to have the case resolved.
Told later told E! News,
"Julie and I knew all along that we had done nothing wrong and that when the facts all
came out, we would be fine."
Julie might be a famous reality star, but it's clear that her top priority is family
- not fame. The recognition her family has gained since the 2014 debut of Chrisley Knows
Best means nothing if her kids don't remain humble through it all. In an interview with
Style Blueprint, Julie revealed that she and Todd have always tried to teach their kids
to stay down to earth, adding,
"Keeping the children grounded is probably one of the hardest jobs that Todd and I have,
to try and instill in our children."
"That's what the show's about. It's about love, it's about family, it's about fun too."
Julie feels that it's her family's responsibility to use their platform for the greater good,
telling the outlet,
"We have always told our children that this show will not last forever and that it is
our job to take this blessing and pay it forward."
It certainly seems Julie and Todd's efforts to keep their children's heads out of the
clouds have paid off.
"I never cease to amaze myself. That is how a true Southern Nanny Faye banana pudding
is supposed to look."
Julie is best known to fans as Todd's no-nonsense, quick-witted wife. But she's got some secret
talents - especially in the kitchen. Apparently, Julie's chef skills prompted the USA Network
to give the reality star her own online cooking show, aptly titled What's Cooking With Julie
Chrisley. Each episode of the show features the Chrisley matriarch whipping up some of
her favorite recipes alongside a special guest, while they reveal fun behind-the-scenes details
about the family.
"Who wants some banana pudding?”
“I do. Me.”
“It turned out perfectly today."
On Season 2, Julie finally shared her famous banana pudding recipe, with Todd telling viewers
about a banana pudding she made at the beginning of their relationship that turned out to be
pretty lackluster. But fortunately for Todd, Julie started baking his mother's banana pudding
recipe, which was a total crowd-pleaser.
"I would never stay in a marriage where the banana pudding wasn't amazing. Oh, so he was
going to divorce me over banana pudding."
"Does that mean I'm shallow?”
“Yes.”
“Ok, I own it."
The Chrisley family hails from the Bible Belt, and it's no surprise that Julie and Todd - as
well as their children - are a faith-focused bunch. Julie, for one, certainly leans on
her spirituality quite a bit - and doesn't shy away from sharing it with fans.
"It only took the Lord seven days to create the Earth!”
“Actually, six and he rested on the seventh."
On Instagram, Julie often shares bible verses and quotes about her faith with her followers.
In 2019, Julie created a post that read:
"Never give up. God works in mysterious ways…God doesn't promise it will always be easy but
he does say he won't ever leave us!"
Julie sets a faith-based example for her family, as well. On Season 5 of Chrisley Knows Best,
fans watched as Julie tried to teach the younger members of the Chrisley family the "true meaning"
of Christmas.
"Do you guys understand there are millions and millions of children who have nothing,
and you guys have been given so much, that you don't even appreciate what you have."
Explaining they needed to express more gratitude for all that their family had been blessed
with, Julie reminded the kids, quote, "It's Jesus' birthday."
Julie might be the more grounded person in her marriage, but she is still full of surprises
- even for those who know her best.
"I wanna get in shape as much as the next person, but this is ridiculous."
As part of her weight loss journey, Julie has tried many different forms of exercise.
And as her family learned on a Season 1 episode of Chrisley Knows Best, she once signed up
for a rather risqué workout class.
"I took a dance class. It was a pole dancing class."
Unsurprisingly, her family protested her pole dancing adventure. Still, Julie held her ground,
insisting it was a normal exercise that women regularly do. Julie might seem adventurous
when it comes to breaking a sweat, but as she told People magazine, she also enjoys
more traditional forms of exercise, like Pilates and even walking.
Julie is a household name among certain TV fans today, but the reality star often finds
herself longing for the days in which her life wasn't broadcast as entertainment for
others.
Since Chrisley Knows Best has become so popular, giving birth to spin-off shows and plenty
of drama - some might think Julie would have grown to love being a well-known reality TV
figure. But the star has admitted that she misses the life she had before her eccentric
family took the nation by storm. In an interview with Style Blueprint, Julie explained that
she was initially shocked to hear that people wanted to watch a reality show about her life,
confessing,
"When my family was being considered for a reality TV show I first thought, 'My life,
a comedy? Well, if you say so.'"
"I still can't believe that we're here. That we're actually going through this."
But as the show gained traction, Julie started getting noticed more and more - something
she still doesn't always enjoy. She admitted,
"The hardest thing to adjust to is the loss of anonymity. [There's] no more going to the
grocery without makeup!"
Julie clearly loves being a mom. Not only has the reality star raised the three children
she shares with Todd - Savannah, Chase, and Grayson - Julie has also taken her stepson
Kyle's daughter, Chloe, under her wing. According to People magazine, the Chrisleys have full
custody of young Chloe, and it's clear that Julie is a seasoned mother figure for her.
"You spoil her.”
“A special occasion requires a special dress."
In fact, the reality star loves being a mom so much that when her older kids spread their
wings and left the nest, it really took a toll on their mother. And also their dad.
"It's heartbreaking to wake up and know that your favorite child is no longer in your home.”
“Todd!”
“Well it's the truth!"
In an interview about Season 3 of Chrisley Knows Best, the supermom explained how hard
it was when Savannah and Chase left home for college, telling People magazine,
"It's going to be a rough summer just getting to that place and not just for us, but for
Grayson and Chloe as well."
She said that even the youngest Chrisleys had become especially fond of Savannah - who
basically grew up on the show, herself, and has since gone on to become a successful adult
in her own right. It turned out, the little kids had a tough time letting her go. Julie
added,
"It's going to be an adjustment for all of us."
Fans of Julie and her funny family might be shocked to hear about the reality TV matriarch's
tragic past. Chrisley Knows Best viewers are used to seeing Julie happy, joking, and smiling
most of the time, even when husband Todd is being his usual, eccentric self. But Julie's
past reveals that this Southern belle has experienced quite a bit of loss throughout
her life.
"It's almost like your dad's life ended when your brother's did."
In 2017, Julie appeared on an episode of Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry, in which Henry did
a reading for both Todd and Julie. But during one particular moment that left Julie in tears,
Henry connected with her late brother, telling Julie that her brother acknowledged that his
passing had been particularly hard on their father. Julie said on the show,
"People that have met my dad after my brother passed, I'm like, 'But you don't know him
before. He was so different before.' […] Tyler [said] that when [my] brother died, he did,
too."
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