Newest Update!! You won’t believe this? Savannah Reveals Why Julie Chrisley Refused to Marry Todd

A Love Story with a Rocky Beginning

To the outside world, Todd and Julie Chrisley always looked like the picture-perfect Southern couple. Their glamorous lifestyle, witty banter, and big family energy became

the foundation of their hit reality series Chrisley Knows Best. But as Savannah revealed, behind the scenes, their marriage nearly didn’t happen at all.

Julie, before becoming Mrs. Chrisley, was Julie Hughes—a preacher’s daughter raised in South Carolina with traditional values and a quiet lifestyle.

She wasn’t one to chase the spotlight or indulge in extravagance. Enter Todd Chrisley, a man who was her polar opposite: loud, ambitious, and charismatic, with a larger-than-life personality that could light up a room—or overwhelm it.

Savannah explained it perfectly: “Mom said Dad was like a storm. You either learned to dance in the rain or you got swept away.”

 

Why Julie Said No at First

So why exactly did Julie hesitate to marry Todd? Savannah didn’t hold back. According to her, Julie’s reasons were complicated—and very real.

First, Todd had already been married once before. From his first marriage, he had two children, Lindsie and Kyle. Julie knew that marrying Todd meant stepping into a family dynamic already filled with history, responsibilities, and tension. And as a woman of faith raised in a traditional home, Julie didn’t want to be pressured into marriage just because she was expecting a child with Todd.

Savannah revealed that Julie was strong and independent from the start. She told Todd point-blank: “I don’t need you to take care of me or the baby. I can do this on my own.” That level of determination shocked many fans but also earned Julie admiration. To her, love wasn’t about obligation—it had to be a genuine choice.

Todd’s Persistence: A Man Who Wouldn’t Give Up

If there’s one thing everyone knows about Todd Chrisley, it’s that he never takes “no” for an answer. And when it came to Julie, he was relentless.

Savannah painted a vivid picture of her father’s courtship: flowers so big they could fill a room, handwritten letters, and multiple phone calls a day. Todd knew Julie was the woman he wanted to build his life with, and he wasn’t about to let her slip away.

Still, Julie worried about being swallowed up by his intensity. “She loved Dad’s energy,” Savannah admitted, “but she was scared there wouldn’t be room for her voice in a marriage with someone that big.”

Faith, Family, and Fear

Julie’s upbringing also played a huge role in her hesitation. As the daughter of a preacher, she had been raised to believe in marriage as a sacred vow, not something to be rushed into because of circumstances. Even though she was pregnant with Chase, she wanted to be absolutely sure that marrying Todd was the right decision—not just for her, but for her child’s future.

Savannah recalled a powerful story her mom shared with her: the night before the wedding, Julie sat alone in her room, praying. She asked God if she was making a mistake. And in that moment, she felt an overwhelming sense of peace. She told Savannah later, “I felt like God said: This won’t be easy, but this is the man I made for you.”

That clarity gave Julie the courage to move forward.

The Turning Point: Saying Yes

In May of 1996, Julie finally said “I do,” marrying Todd in a private but meaningful ceremony. Just a week later, their son Chase was born, forever sealing their bond as a family.

 

To the world, it seemed like the beginning of a fairy tale. But as Savannah shared, her mom always carried that early hesitation with her—not as regret, but as a reminder of the leap of faith she had taken.

A Marriage of Highs and Lows

What followed was a rollercoaster of triumphs and trials. Together, Todd and Julie built businesses, created a reality TV empire, and raised five children. But they also endured betrayals, lawsuits, financial scandals, and eventually, prison sentences for tax fraud.

Savannah admitted there were nights her mom questioned whether she’d made the right choice. Not because she didn’t love Todd, but because life with him was never calm. “It was either extreme highs or devastating lows—there was never an in-between,” Savannah reflected.

Yet through it all, Julie’s decision to marry Todd remained firm. She chose him not because he was easy, but because their love was extraordinary.

The Lessons for Savannah

Savannah, who now raises her younger brother Grayson and niece Chloe while her parents serve their sentences, says her mother’s marriage has shaped her own views on love.

She admits marriage scares her more than motherhood. After a broken engagement with Nic Kerdiles, she questions whether she’ll ever find a love as enduring as her parents’. “Mom taught me that love is about choosing someone every day, even when they drive you crazy,” Savannah said. “But she also taught me never to lose my own voice.”

That balance—Julie’s strength meeting Todd’s ambition—is, according to Savannah, the secret to why her parents lasted 27 years together despite overwhelming challenges.

Would Julie Choose Todd Again?

With both Todd and Julie now behind bars, many wonder: does Julie regret marrying him?

Savannah’s answer was clear. “She doesn’t. She still tells me she’d choose him again, even knowing how hard it’s been.”

For Julie, love was never about living an easy life. It was about walking through storms hand in hand. “If I wanted simple, I wouldn’t have chosen Todd,” Julie once told Savannah. “But I wanted extraordinary.”

Why This Story Matters

Savannah’s decision to share this intimate story isn’t just about gossip or tabloid fodder. It’s about showing the world that behind the reality TV cameras and scandals, her parents are real people with real struggles.

“Fans forget sometimes that Mom and Dad are human,” Savannah explained. “They’ve had doubts, fights, and regrets, just like anyone else. But they also had this undeniable connection that carried them through.”

If Julie had walked away, the Chrisley family as we know it wouldn’t exist. There would be no Chase, no Savannah, no Grayson or Chloe. And certainly, no Chrisley Knows Best.

Closing Reflection

As Savannah concluded in her podcast, she holds on to one truth: her mother didn’t marry Todd because it was easy. She married him because it was worth it.

And while the Chrisley family’s story today is clouded by prison sentences and uncertainty, Julie’s choice to say “yes” all those years ago remains a defining moment in their legacy.

For Savannah, it’s a reminder that love is messy, complicated, and sometimes terrifying—but it’s also the force that has held her family together through fame, scandal, and heartbreak.

So, the next time you think of the Chrisleys, remember this: Julie almost walked away. But she didn’t. And that one decision changed everything.