MFT: Todd Dulaney Remembers His First Stage Setback
Marcus Ingram
For Todd Dulaney, a name now synonymous with heartfelt worship and praise, the path to his celebrated music career was anything but smooth. Like so many artists, his 'first time' stepping into the spotlight was accompanied by great anticipation, only to end in a moment that could have crushed his spirit for good.
The gospel sensation spoke in detail for this week's 'My First Time' of a performance earlier in his career that would've allowed him to show the world his passion and talent. However, things didn't go as planned. Whether due to unforeseen circumstances, nerves, or challenges beyond his control, Todd was unable to take the stage. Dreams that had been nurtured for years felt like they were fading right before his eyes. For someone whose heart was set on sharing his gift through music, the disappointment was palpable and soul-shaking.
RELATED: My First Time – Kash Doll Remembers Her Acting Debut On BMF
Thankfully, Todd's story didn't end there. This setback became a crucial turning point. Instead of allowing the situation to define him, he used the experience as fuel to sharpen his craft, refine his purpose, and grow stronger in his faith. That unshakable resilience, built in the midst of heartbreak, is what has made Todd Dulaney's music resonate with so many. His story is a reminder to the community that a dream deferred doesn't have to be a dream denied.
Today, Todd inspires millions not only with his songs but with the testimony of perseverance behind them. His first experience may not have unfolded the way he'd hoped, but it became the foundation of his incredible journey to becoming one of gospel music's shining stars.
The article ' My First Time: Todd Dulaney Remembers His First Setback' was created with the help of Jasper.AI
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New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Inside the opulent mansion where Todd and Julie Chrisley will live after leaving prison
Imprisoned reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley have been pardoned by President Donald Trump—just over two years after they were sentenced to a collective 19 years behind bars for tax evasion and bank fraud. The TV personalities, who shot to fame in 2014 with their hit reality series 'Chrisley Knows Best,' were found guilty in 2022 of conspiring to defraud Georgia banks out of more than $36 million in personal loans and tax evasion. Advertisement At the time, Todd, 56, who served time at the Federal Correctional Institution Pensacola in Florida, received a 12-year sentence, which was later reduced to 10 years. Julie, 52, was handed a seven-year sentence, which she served at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, KY. Since their conviction, the couple's daughter, Savannah, 27, has fought to have their sentences overturned, issuing public pleas for government support, while alleging that her parents were being subjected to 'beyond inhumane' conditions behind bars. 8 Todd and Julie Chrisley, reality couple from 'Chrisley Knows Best,' has been pardoned by President Trump and are headed to Nashville. chasechrisley/Instagram Now, the budding real estate agent—who is raising her brother, Grayson, 18, and her 12-year-old niece, Chloe, in her parents' absence—has taken a major step forward in her fight for her parents' freedom after Trump phoned her to say that he plans to pardon both Todd and Julie—who are now home and flexing their freedom online. Advertisement 'It's a terrible thing, but it's a great thing because your parents are going to be free and clean,' the president said during the conversation, which was videotaped and shared by his communications advisor Margo Martin on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'I hope we can do it by tomorrow. I don't know them, but give them my regards,' Trump told the 27-year-old, who is in the process of filming a new reality series about how her life was turned upside down by her parents' convictions. Keep up with today's most important news Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Savannah later took to TikTok to celebrate the news, donning a gold-and-white MAGA baseball cap, while telling viewers how much she was 'freaking out' over the announcement. Advertisement 'I have shed so many tears. The president called me personally as I was walking into Sam's Club and notified me that he was signing pardon paperwork for both my parents. So both my parents are coming home tonight or tomorrow. And I still don't believe it's real,' she admitted. 8 'The president called me personally as I was walking into Sam's Club and notified me that he was signing pardon paperwork for both my parents,' Savannah Chrisley said on TikTok. 'I still don't believe it's real.' Instagram/@savannahchrisley 'The fact that the president called me—I will forever be grateful for President Trump, his administration and everyone along the way,' she added. 'We're getting some clothes together for Mom and Dad, getting their room put together upstairs, and I'm just speechless. I can't thank you guys enough for sticking with my family along the way and for loving us and supporting us,' she said. Advertisement She ended the video by thanking the Trump administration: 'My parents get to start their lives over. President Trump didn't just commute their sentences. He gave them a full, unconditional pardon. So for that, I am forever grateful. 8 Todd Chrisley speaks as his attorney Alex Little and daughter Savannah Chrisley listen during a news conference in Nashville on Friday. REUTERS 'Thank you, President Trump. I vow to stand next to you and your administration and expose the corruption and continue fighting for the men and women who are in prison. I will repay your kindness to every person I meet. Thank God for a president like Donald J. Trump.' Following their release, the family made sure to boast their freedom—and their new appearances. Savannah documented her parents' release from prison in a series of clips shared to her Instagram Story. In one video, Todd was heard gushing about his release as he confessed that he had gotten 'jacked' during his time behind bars. Todd flexed his bicep muscles while he sat in the back of the car, urging his daughter to 'feel his muscle' Stay up to date on recently pardoned reality star, Todd Chrisley Advertisement 'Y'all I'm not gonna lie, it's hard,' Savanah said in the clip. Prior to their imprisonment, the Chrisley family was known for flaunting their lavish lifestyle, which included the purchase and sale of several luxurious homes. In April 2019, Julie bought a posh property in Brentwood, TN, for $3.4 million, having snapped it up from former hockey pro Mike Ribeiro, who had been playing with the Nashville Predators. The Chrisleys renovated the mansion and, just two months later, put it back on the market for $4.75 million. Advertisement 8 Julie and Todd Chrisley during season 4 of their reality show. USA Networks/Courtesy Everett Collection However, they struggled to sell it and took it off the market a year later. Built in 2013, the 12,753-square-foot mansion is outfitted with high-end finishes. Highlights include a formal dining room with hand-painted wallpaper, a rec room, a wine cellar, an indoor sport court, and a wood-paneled office with a decorative ceiling. Set on an acre, the grounds boast a covered patio with a fireplace and barbecue station, as well as a pool and spa. Advertisement For a time, the family used the property as their main residence, having relocated from their former home in the Belle Meade neighborhood of Nashville when it started to draw 'unwanted attention from tourists.' 8 In April 2019, Julie bought a posh property in Brentwood, TN, for $3,375,000. It was sold in 2023. The Belle Meade home was purchased by the family for $1.6 million in 2016, when they relocated from Atlanta to Nashville. The home quickly earned its own celebrity profile after being featured on their hit series. Built in 2014, the four-bedroom, 5,229-square-foot home features a living room with multiple sets of French doors, an open kitchen with a large island, a wet bar, and two fireplaces. Advertisement Measuring a little over a half-acre, the outdoor space includes a level lawn and a patio. 8 Savannah Chrisley's Nashville, TN home. Christopher Oquendo for NY Post In 2020, ownership of the Belle Meade property was transferred to Savannah, and it is understood that this is the home where Todd and Julie will live as soon as they are freed. They finally managed to sell their Brentwood property in 2023, netting $5.2 million for the home in an off-market transaction that was arranged while the duo was behind bars. Todd and Julie have a long history of buying and selling homes in Atlanta, before they moved to Nashville. In 2006, Todd purchased a 16-acre estate in the upscale Buckhead neighborhood. He paid an eye-watering $9 million for the eight-bedroom European-style mansion. 8 After making a name for themselves on reality TV, the couple moved from Atlanta to Nashville in 2016, and will be living with Savannah in the family's Lynwood Boulevard mansion. According to reports, he lost the property to foreclosure in 2012. In the show's first season, the family lived regally in a nine-bedroom, 30,000-square-foot pile in the Atlanta suburb of Roswell. Located in a gated community, the property offered landscaped grounds, along with a heated saltwater pool and hot tub, an outdoor terrace with a fireplace, and a children's playground. 8 Chrisley Knows Best cast from left: Faye Chrisley, Chase Chrisley, Todd Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley, Chloe Chrisley, Julie Chrisley, Grayson Chrisley. USA Networks/Courtesy Everett Collection Initially listed in 2007 for $7 million, the mansion bounced on and off the market for years before finally selling for $1.2 million in 2014. To maintain camera-ready appearances for their show, the Chrisley family leased a posh place in Suwanee, GA, in 2014. It was the backdrop of their program after they had to leave their Roswell estate. Built in 2006, the 7,800-square-foot mansion sits on the sixth hole of the River Club golf course. The custom-built residence features built-ins, teak flooring, fireplaces, an office, and a formal dining room. The primary suite has a fireplace, dual closets, and golf course views—and it was often the focus of scenes in the show. When it came on the luxury rental market in 2016, the monthly lease was a steep $8,000. Unrelated to any Chrisley shenanigans, the mansion popped on the market in February for $1,949,000 and was sold a month later for $1,868,000. The family also laid claim to another Atlanta-area home. The four-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot brick house in Alpharetta was reportedly the home of Todd's mother, known as 'Nanny' Faye on the show. It was purchased for $452,900 in 2005, and in 2017, it was sold for $540,000.
USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
Todd Chrisley opens up about life in prison, denies feeling remorse after Trump pardon
Todd Chrisley opens up about life in prison, denies feeling remorse after Trump pardon Show Caption Hide Caption Trump pardons reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley President Trump called Savannah Chrisley from the Oval Office in the White House to tell her he wanted to pardon her parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley. Todd Chrisley spoke publicly for the first time after his release from prison following Pres. Donald Trump's full pardon. "I want to thank President Trump," Todd Chrisley said during a May 30 press conference with his middle daughter Savannah Chrisley, 27, at a Nashville hotel. They were joined by attorneys Alex Little and Zack Lawson. When Savannah took the podium, she announced the "Chrisley Knows Best" stars will be returning to reality television. Filming has already begun on a new show that will document the reunification of Todd and his wife, Julie Chrisley. "It's honestly felt like a dream to have them at home," Savannah said. Todd and Julie Chrisley had their prison sentences commuted by Trump on May 28, and they were released from their respective federal prisons hours later. They were each serving time for bank fraud and tax evasion. When asked if the family plans to stay in Nashville, Todd Chrisley did not commit. "Nashville will always have a special place in our heart, but we have other plans," he said. Julie was not at the news conference because she was at home with daughter Chole Chrisley, Todd said. "Julie and I have been together for over 30 years, and she is my best friend," he added. The sprawling reality TV family: See where the 'Chrisley Knows Best' stars are now 'Nothing to do other than to read and to work out' Todd Chrisley had been imprisoned at FPC Pensacola in Florida, while Julie Chrisley was incarcerated in Kentucky at FMC Lexington. Todd Chrisley said he'd maintained a fitness regimen and joked about his Bureau of Prisons "glow," saying, "Maybe it's all the residual Botox that never wore off." He said he also grew in his faith while behind bars. "I have nothing to do other than to read and to work out," he said. "And so I worked out every morning at 10:45 a.m. until 12 with my buddies there, and I read and my walk with Christ became deeper." Todd Chrisley denies having 'remorse' Todd took the opportunity to maintain his innocence, saying, "I'd have remorse if it was something that I did." When asked what Todd Chrisley would say to people who think he and his wife were only pardoned because of their status, he said he could understand it. "I understand that that's not something that you can look at and say, well, that had nothing to do with it," he said. "I don't know if it did, because I wasn't involved in the if that's the case, I don't know how to address the fact that if it is the case, but I'm grateful to God for whatever reason it was that we were able to get the pardon in the first place." 'My dad is just jacked' Todd and Julie Chrisley's children react to Trump pardon Todd, Savannah Chrisley say family was targeted for status During a September 2024 hearing, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Julie Chrisley apologized "for my actions and what led me to where I am today." When asked about this apology during the May 30 press conference, Todd Chrisley argued she had no other options. "You're placed in a position as a defendant to either bow down ... (to) the Department of Justice and accept responsibility for things that you did not do in order to avoid a stronger sentence," he said. "And the corruption that went on in our case is going to continue to unfold, and (attorney) Alex (Little) is going to continue to give each and every one of you the evidence." USA TODAY has reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia for comment. What crimes were Julie and Todd Chrisley accused of committing? The Chrisleys were first indicted in Georgia federal court in August 2019, four years after the couple moved to the Belle Meade area of Nashville. During their trial, prosecutors said the Chrisleys defrauded banks of more than $36 million in fraudulent loans and received millions in proceeds, according to court records. "The Chrisleys defrauded financial institutions and the Federal Government through tax evasion and other fraudulent means in an effort to minimize their tax liability (and) project an image of wealth," said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey in a November 2022 news release following the Chrisleys' sentencing. "This sentencing serves notice that no matter a person's celebrity status, there are severe consequences for defrauding the American tax system." Julie was sentenced to seven years, while Todd was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison — which was shortened to nine years by the time of his release. They began serving their sentences in January 2023. U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross had ordered the couple to forfeit more than a combined $22 million as pardon of their sentences; Trump's pardon wipes that debt clean as it was part of the court order and not a civil matter. Todd Chrisley said he'd felt numb after learning he was being pardoned. "All I could think about was the guys that I was leaving behind," Todd Chrisley said. "And when I left that day, there was only 317 men in our camp, but they were lined up shouting when I was walking out, and they were saying, 'Don't leave; don't forget us.'"
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Todd Chrisley Channels Donald Trump In First Press Conference
Todd Chrisley has wasted no time in entering fight mode after his release from prison. The Chrisley family patriarch shared a few thoughts with the public as he enjoyed the first few hours of his newly minted presidential pardon after spending 2+ years behind bars. Todd Chrisley and his wife, Julie Chrisley, got lucky on May 27 when President Donald Trump informed their prison reform activist daughter, Savannah Trump, about his decision to let her parents walk free. The Chrisley family and their legal team held a press conference in Nashville to discuss this development. The family appeared alongside attorneys Alex Little and Zack Lawson in Nashville on Friday. Savannah opened the event by describing her parents' pardons as delightful. As always, she expressed gratitude to the Trump administration and others who helped secure their release. But she minced no words for the Department of Justice, which she claimed has been politicized. As soon as the younger Chrisley was done, Todd began his speech by thanking everyone for their support. He shone the light on Savannah, who was at the forefront of their fight for freedom from prison, acknowledging the battles she fought while their situation went on. As reported by TMZ, Todd also reaffirmed his belief that he was wrongfully convicted. Todd wasted no time in hitting the ground running. During his press conference, the reality star expressed his intention to highlight the injustices federal inmates experienced nationwide. He specifically showed interest in the poor conditions Black inmates are subjected to, with a promise to expose every irregularity in the prison system. As the briefing went on, the reality star got chatty with a reporter who asked him if he felt any remorse for his actions, which got him locked up. In response, Todd jokingly suggested that a reporter who inquired about his remorse might be affiliated with CNN, echoing a familiar tactic used by Trump. Todd also shared bits from his daily prison life, revealing that he maintained a routine that included working out for over an hour, reading, and speaking with Savannah every day. While Savannah got the golden opportunity to speak with her doting dad every day, her mom could not enjoy the luxury. As reported by The Blast, Savannah revealed in a March episode of her podcast that her parents, who were serving time at separate federal prisons at the time, had not spoken to each other since their sentence began. Todd served his time in Florida, while Julie was held in a federal correctional center in Kentucky. Savannah described the situation as a challenge, noting that it should never be that way. The 27-year-old clarified that the lack of dialogue between her parents was absolutely not of their doing but instead a testament to the inefficiency of the prison system. She slammed the correctional facility for never making "anything easy" for inmates, including her mother and father. When news of Todd and Julie's presidential pardon landed on Savannah's table, she joyfully contacted her parents to inform them about their homecoming. "They didn't believe it. I think it literally just came in from nowhere," the podcaster detailed during the press conference. As shared by The Blast, Savannah recalled receiving the presidential call that her parents were coming home while she went shopping. Savannah expressed her gratitude to Trump and his administration, stating that she would always be thankful for their support. She shared her excitement about the preparations she and her siblings were making for their parents' return, including gathering clothes and organizing their room upstairs. Overwhelmed with emotion, she encompassed her feelings with a simple word: "speechless." The podcaster responded to her critics who alleged that she had used unethical means to obtain President Donald Trump's signature on the pardon documents. "I didn't have to do anything. I simply stood firm in my beliefs and convictions, fighting for my parents and what is right," she emphasized to the naysayers. The Blast shared last year that during her resentencing hearing last September, the matriarch of the Chrisley family became emotional as she addressed her family in court. Reflecting on her time behind bars, she expressed deep remorse for her actions that led to the family's current situation. In a heartfelt apology, she conveyed her feelings to the court and specifically to her older children, Savannah and Chase, who were present. Julie acknowledged the significant impact her incarceration had on her family, stating, "This has been the most difficult part of my life," and she lamented not being able to repay her children for their struggles. She concluded by sharing that she had been working on developing new skills to strengthen her bond with her family. Julie bagged a seven-year prison sentence alongside her husband in 2022, who got a twelve. She served her time at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, until her presidential pardon three days ago. Will Todd Chrisley live up to his promises on prison reforms?
