Savannah Chrisley opens up about holiday heartache without parents

Savannah Chrisley, 27, shared her struggles with celebrating the holiday season without her parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley, in the latest episode of her podcast "Unlocked." The "Chrisley Knows Best" star sat down with her grandmother, Nanny Faye, to discuss family life, their holiday plans, and how they are coping with the absence of Todd and Julie, who are both serving prison sentences.

"It's my show now!" Nanny Faye joked at the start of the episode, eliciting laughter from Savannah, who replied, "No, no it's not!" The lighthearted moment set the tone for a conversation that wove humor with heartfelt reflections.

Remembering Miley and Thanksgiving chaos

The duo began by reflecting on recent family events, including the loss of Nanny Faye’s dog, Miley, who passed away at 15 years old. "She was 15, and I carried her wherever she needed to go," Nanny Faye recalled. "It broke my heart when she passed." Savannah offered comfort, saying, "You make sure nobody ever forgets about Nanny, and I don’t think anyone could forget you."

Talk then turned to Thanksgiving, which Savannah hosted for 50 guests. While the meal was praised by Nanny Faye as "something out of a magazine," Savannah shared a less glamorous moment when a guest used their hand to grab food from a serving dish. "It’s disgusting," she said, laughing. Despite the chaos, Savannah’s boyfriend, Robert Shiver, added levity. "Robert joked about going to play golf while I was cooking," she said. "I came unglued—then he laughed and said he was kidding."

Coping with Christmas without Todd and Julie

The podcast took a more emotional turn as Savannah addressed the absence of her parents during the holidays. Todd and Julie Chrisley have been incarcerated since January 2023 after being convicted of bank and wire fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy charges. Todd is serving time at Federal Prison Camp Pensacola and is scheduled for release on June 11, 2032. Julie, currently at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, is set to be released on March 23, 2028.

"Obviously, Mom and Dad are not here—shocker," Savannah remarked. Despite the heaviness, Nanny Faye remained optimistic. "Our hearts are heavy, but we’re not going to let the devil win," she said. "This too shall pass, and we will be better for it because God don’t put stuff on us that He don’t get us out of."

Savannah revealed plans to spend Christmas abroad with her siblings, focusing on experiences over traditional celebrations. "Last Christmas, I did everything—the meal, the gifts, and tried to pretend it was the same, but it wasn’t," she explained. "So this year, I asked the kids, ‘Do you want gifts or to go somewhere?’ They decided on a trip."

She added that her boyfriend, Robert Shiver, and his family would join them, and she plans to bring stockings to preserve a piece of Christmas tradition. Meanwhile, Nanny Faye said she would spend Christmas with her other son, Randy Chrisley.

Chrisley family strength

The episode wrapped up with a mix of humor and sentimentality. As Savannah noted this would be the family’s last trip before her younger brother Grayson heads to college, Nanny Faye shared a joke about Grayson asking her to move in with him. "He said, ‘Nanny, why don’t you just go with me?’ I said, ‘No, I’m retiring,’" she quipped. "He only wants me there to cook, clean, and do laundry!"

Despite the challenges, Savannah expressed hope for the future. "I have so much good karma coming my way after the past two years," she said. Nanny Faye encouraged her to think about starting a family of her own. "I’m getting old, Savannah!" she teased. "You better give me some babies to play with."