Chase says ”I’m so tired”: Chrisley family worried about Chase’s deteriorating health
Chase Chrisley is opening up about starting his sobriety journey.
The Chrisley Knows Best alum made the decision to check himself into a rehab facility amid his ongoing struggles with alcohol.
“Just a lot of emotions,” Chase 29, said through tears onboard a plane with his father Todd Chrisley and girlfriend Jodi Laine Fournerat during the Sept. 16 episode of The Chrisley’s: Back to Reality. “I just need to go and handle a lot of trauma that I have buried. I just thought that I could bury it, bury it, bury it.”
The Chase Chrisley Collection founder admitted that he was “scared” to enter treatment, adding, “I just gotta find myself.”
Amid his son’s decision, Todd—who is also dad to Savannah, 28, Grayson, 19, and granddaughter Chloe, 11, with wife Julie Chrisley—had words of encouragement for his son.
“My life’s story is not going to be that I went to prison for 28 months,” the family patriarch told his son, referencing the time he spent in prison after being convicted—and later pardoned—for federal tax invasion charges. “Your life story does not have to be that I had an alcohol and substance abuse problem. That’s not your life’s story. That’s a part. That’s a chapter.”
Todd—who also shares kids Lindsie, 36, and Kyle, 34, with ex-wife Teresa Terry—admitted that he was better prepared to handle Chase’s struggles after working through his eldest son’s addiction problems.
“You know, I thought going through this with Kyle would kill me,” Todd said after dropping Chase off at the facility. “But maybe it was preparation for what I’m going through today. I’m sad, and I’m leaving [knowing] that I had to bring my son to a rehab. I’m sad that I’m getting on a plane and he’s not with me.”
Paul Archuleta/Getty Images“Even though we’ve been through a lot,” he added. “I truly believe that God did not bring us this far to drop this off and that God will keep a protective edge around my son and the healing hand on him at all times. It’s because that’s what I pray for all of my children every day and every night.”
And while he had the support of his father, Chase’s struggles caused a rift in his relationship with sister Savannah and ultimately caused him to miss the family’s first joint sit-down television interview following his parents prison release.
After spending some time in the program, Chase apologized to the Unlocked podcast host with hopes of rekindling their relationship.
“I’m beyond proud of you,” Chase told Savannah during a Zoom call. “I’m beyond thankful for the steps that you took and the responsibility that you carried because, like, I was a mess.”
After Savannah accepted and noted that she felt the pressure of holding her family together while her parents were in prison, Chase vowed to do better.
“What I can do is show up for you now and in the future, because I can’t go back and change anything,” he tearfully told his sister. “But, I’m sorry, Savannah. And, I love you.”
Accepting her brother’s apology, Savannah declared, “I love you, and I’m here if you need me.”
“I’m proud of you for taking the steps that you’ve taken,” she added. “You’ve always had so much potential, if you just let yourself fall into and work for it, and I’m proud of you.”
In the end, Chase’s decision to get sober—which he announced in March—was all about making sure he could show up for his family.
“I’ve learned that time is the only thing that money can’t buy back,” Chase said in a side interview. “So, I’m not going to waste it arguing over small, petty things that don’t really matter at the end of the day. And, that family’s really all you got.”
