Teresa Terry is the first wife of Todd Chrisley, the American reality television personality, and the mother of his two oldest children – Lindsie and Kyle Chrisley.
Viewers of the popular USA Network reality TV show Chrisley Knows Best might not be familiar with Teresa Terry, the mother of Lindsie and Kyle Chrisley and the first wife of the show’s main character, Todd Chrisley. This is because the blond-haired, black-eyed Teresa Terry has chosen to avoid the limelight. However, she is primarily known for her connection with Todd, and although not much is known about her, her side of the story of their time together reveals a Todd Chrisley viewers aren’t familiar with.
Teresa Terry’s Profile Summary
- Full Name: Teresa Terry
- Year of Birth: 1971
- Age: 53 years old
- Place of Birth: South Carolina
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
- Nationality: American
- Relationship: Divorced (Todd Chrisley m. 1990 d. 1996)
- Children: 2 (Lindsie Chrisley and Kyle Chrisley)
Teresa Terry and Todd Chrisley Met and Married as Teenagers
Details about Teresa Terry’s background are a bit hard to find as she is mostly known for her marriage to Todd. She was just 17 years old when she fell in love with 19-year-old Michael Todd Chrisley. The two were both high school students in Westminster, South Carolina. Teresa recalls, in an interview with DailyMail, that they hung out with friends at Todd’s family home, where Todd’s mother, Nanny Faye, cooked for them. They also enjoyed going to the movies. However, a twist of fate led the pair down a path that Teresa will recall years later as turbulent yet unregretted.
According to Teresa, her marriage to Todd wouldn’t have taken place had she not gotten pregnant at 19. Thus, they were “forced to do the right thing,” and the high school sweethearts were wedded in 1990. The marriage, which lasted for seven years (1990-1996), produced two children: Lindsie (born 17th September 1989) and Kyle (born 29th August 1991). The marriage was not without its ups and downs. However, as the years went by, things continued to deteriorate until the couple had no choice but to part ways.
Abusive Marriage and Domestic Violence
Teresa has described her marriage to Todd Chrisley as an abusive marriage in which there was domestic violence. Teresa has alleged that Todd Chrisley battered her on multiple occasions and also threatened to kill her.
Her description of the man she spent seven years of her life with can be summarized as controlling, vindictive, and physically (as well as verbally) abusive. He was a perfectionist who micromanaged everything, from how she presented herself to how the home should look (in order despite the two children) to how the children were raised.
The title of the reality TV show Todd Chrisley gained fame from, “Chrisley Knows Best,” does justice to this image of Todd. He likes to have his way, and when contradicted, there will be consequences. Teresa wasn’t about to put up with the verbal abuse and physical assault. In the interview with DailyMail, she cited some incidents that had occurred in the course of the marriage:
- In December 1992, an intoxicated Todd battered his mother, Nanny Faye, and Teresa as well, destroying her (Teresa’s) personal property.
- On October 21, 1994, he battered her while she was driving, forcing her to pull over and run away. She was subsequently thrown out of their marital home after being stripped of her jewelry. She was only let back in when he got tired of taking care of the kids.
- Teresa also claimed that on the 2nd of November 1994, Todd wielded a knife, threatening to kill her, and she had to flee to the neighbors. Three days later, in the process of battering her with his closed fist, he tore her clothes, including her undergarments.
- Court documents state thus: ‘The beating causing [sic] contusions and lacerations on her lips and mouth. Plaintiff (Teresa) attempted to call the police, however, the Defendant (Chrisley) threatened to kill her if she reported the incident.’
All these allegations were, however, claimed as untrue by Todd Chrisley. Yet, the fact remains that the couple separated and reunited multiple times during their marriage, with Teresa filing a domestic violence complaint in 1992 as well as a criminal complaint and unlawful abduction in 1994. Lindsie, who was with her paternal grandparents, was not released to Teresa when she came for her while leaving the marriage.
Teresa eventually filed for divorce in April 1995 and thus began a legal battle for child custody that ended with the couple being granted joint custody.
Quick Facts
| Date/Year | Event/Description |
|---|---|
| Early Life | Teresa Terry was born and raised in South Carolina. |
| 1986 (approx.) | Teresa Terry and Todd Chrisley started dating when she was 17 and he was 19. |
| Late 1980s | The couple welcomed their first child, Lindsie Chrisley. |
| Early 1990s | They had their second child, Kyle Chrisley. |
| Mid 1990s | Teresa Terry and Todd Chrisley divorced. The exact year of divorce might vary based on sources, but mid-1990s is a general timeframe. |
| Post-Divorce | Teresa largely remained out of the limelight, while Todd Chrisley went on to gain fame through the reality TV show “Chrisley Knows Best”. |
Did Todd Chrisley Have Children With His First Wife?
Todd Chrisley has two children with his first wife, Teresa Terry, and they are a daughter named Lindie Chrisley and a son named Kyle Chrisley. Todd has previously accused Teresa of turning the kids against him. Details on the two are provided below.
1. Lindsie Chrisley
- Full Name: Lindsie Chrisley
- Date of Birth: September 17, 1989
- Age: 34 years old
- Parents: Teresa Terry and Todd Chrisley
- Occupation: Reality TV star
Lindsie Chrisley, who is Todd’s first child, is widely known for her appearance on the show Chrisley Knows Best. When she was 18, she was legally adopted by her stepmother, Julie. However, in 2017, she left the show as she had a fallout with her father. She was allegedly key in outing Todd and Julie for tax evasion, an accusation she, however, denied, saying instead that Todd and Chase were threatening her to lie for the family. Todd, however, said recently that he has forgiven his estranged daughter Lindsie.
Before this, Lindsie had eloped with Will Campbell in 2012 and had gotten married without her father’s approval. Their son Jackson Campbell was born in 2013. The couple has, however, split up after nine years of marriage. She now hosts a podcast called Coffee Convos with Kailyn Lowry, where she talks about the controversies surrounding the family, among other issues.
2. Kyle Chrisley
- Full Name: Kyle Chrisley
- Date of Birth: August 29, 1991
- Age: 32 years old
- Parents: Teresa Terry and Todd Chrisley
- Occupation: Reality TV star
Kyle Chrisley, on the other hand, has been plagued with drug addiction and, according to Todd, bipolar disorder. Todd was granted guardianship of Kyle in 2009 (at 18 years), but the guardianship ended in 2015. Meanwhile, Todd and Julie have been granted full custody of Chloe (2012), Kyle’s biracial daughter with ex-girlfriend Angela Johnson.
Kyle later went on to marry Alexus (Lexi) Whilby, but the marriage ended in 2019 with allegations of domestic violence and death threats against Kyle. August 2019 saw Kyle reconcile with the Chrisley family after having a bad reaction to a medication. The attempted suicide seems to have been the wake-up call he needed, as he is now sober and has reconciled with his father. He is now married to Ashleigh Nelson.
Teresa’s Legal Battle for Child Custody with Todd
Teresa Terry and Todd Chrisley engaged in a vicious legal battle for child custody following their divorce. After the divorce was finalized in 1996, Teresa moved into a gated community in Atlanta with her new partner; however, she said that Todd hired a private detective to track her down. Todd then proceeded to film her and send her a video of a program that dealt with cheating wives. Later on, Teresa moved back to South Carolina to make the shared physical custody situation easier.
She claimed that Todd frustrated her efforts by grounding their kids from visiting her when they erred and also moving them about frequently for no just reason. Another custody case in 2002, which lasted for two years, granted shared custody, and in 2012, Todd sued Teresa for $1 million in child support but lost.
Who is Todd Chrisley’s Current Wife?
Todd Chrisley’s current wife is Julie Hughes, an ex-pageant queen. Todd Chrisley got married to Julie Hughes in May 1996, a few months after the divorce. Julie was already nine months pregnant at the time. Todd and Julie went on to have three children: Chase (1996), Savannah (1997), and Grayson (2006).
Todd, Julie, and their children have been featured in the reality TV series Chrisley Knows Best for several years. The couple is currently in prison after being found guilty of charges relating to bank fraud, tax evasion, and obtaining bank loans using false information, etc. They surrendered to prison in January 2023.
Where is Teresa Terry Now?
Teresa Terry presently lives in rural Oklahoma with her husband and two children, born in 2005 and 2008. She has chosen to live a rather private life. As such, little is known about her parents and/or siblings. Teresa is said to be a huge fan of Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson. She loves watching movies, traveling, and shopping. She also loves vegan food, and her dream holiday destination is Paris.
What is Teresa Terry’s Net Worth?
Teresa Terry’s net worth is $5 million. She is said to be a businesswoman, though the exact business that she does is not public knowledge. However, it is not out of place to assume that she is quite rich, given that her ex-husband once sued her for $1 million in child support. Of course, he may just have been trying his luck with the justice system. It is however possible that Teresa Terry is a very wealthy woman in her own right.
Who is Todd Chrisley’s Ex-Wife?
Todd Chrusley’s ex-wife is Teresa Terry. They were together for seven years during which they had two children: Lindsie (born 17th September 1989) and Kyle (born 29th August 1991).