Julie Chrisley’s life hasn’t turned out the way her parents imagined. 

In the new Lifetime docuseries, The Chrisleys: Back to Reality, Julie’s dad opens up about his less-than-favorable first impression of his daughter’s future husband, Todd Chrisley. 

“The first time I saw him, I thought he was a sissy,” Harvey Hughes says in the first part of the two-night event, which premieres September 1. 

Julie Chrisley’s parents ‘thought she could do better’ than Todd Chrisley

Harvey recalls his initial reaction when he met Todd back in the mid-’90s. The buttoned-up pastor confesses he didn’t really understand Todd’s vibe. 

“It was like, ‘Hmm. Where did you come from, son? You don’t look like you’re from the country. You look more like you’re a city, cosmopolitan kind of guy,’” he says. 

Early on, Todd knew that he wanted more than a small-town life, his mother, Nanny Faye Chrisley, recalls. 

“He did good in school,” she says. “But he quit in 11th grade and went to California. He was seeking fame and fortune.”  

When his dreams of stardom didn’t pan out, Todd returned home. There was a short-lived marriage that produced two kids. Then, he met Julie. It was love at first sight, at least for Todd, his son Chase Chrisley says. 

Harvey and his wife, Pamela Hughes, were definitely not big fans of Julie’s relationship with Todd, at least early on. 

“They did not like my dad. At all,” Todd and Julie’s daughter Savannah Chrisley says. “They will try to lie and maybe say that’s not the truth, whatever. But it is very much the truth. They did not like him. They thought she could do better. And that’s kind of where they started.” 

‘Growing Up Chrisley’ stars got married because Julie was pregnant 

Todd’s relationship with his future in-laws was further strained when Julie got pregnant out of wedlock. 

“I know my mom was pregnant, like about to pop, with me,” Chase says of his parents’ wedding. “I’m pretty sure I’m the only reason they got married.”  

Still, when it came time for the future Chrisley Knows Best stars to tie the knot, Hunter gave the couple his blessing. 

“[Pamela] and I had a conversation [with Todd], and he said, ‘We’re not getting married because Julie’s pregnant. We’re getting married because I love her,’” he recalls. “And I said, ‘Well, that’s the right reason.’”

Todd and Julie made it to the altar just days before she gave birth. 

“They got married May 25th of ‘96. And Chase was born June 1,” Savannah says. “I’ll be damned. I guess it’s not a sin as long as you’re married before the child comes out.” 

The Chrisleys: Back to Reality premieres Monday, September 1, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime. 

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