Chrisley Confessions 2.0: "Life Is A Highway" (feat. Jay DeMarcus)
Release Date: January 28, 2026
Host: Todd Chrisley
Guest: Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flatts, Red Street Records)
Episode Overview
In this revealing and humor-laden episode, Todd Chrisley welcomes his longtime friend and country music star Jay DeMarcus for a deeply personal, unsparingly candid conversation. The two dive into the aftermath of Todd’s incarceration, their enduring friendship, the changing landscape of the entertainment industry, family dynamics, Jay’s pivot into the music business’s executive side, and their mutual brush with political controversy. The episode is rich with stories, laughs, and poignant moments, illustrating the strength of resilience, friendship, and faith as both men navigate new chapters in their lives.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Friendship Survives Everything
- Todd opens with humor and honesty about rumors of fallout with Jay, joking about their unbreakable bond.
- Quote: "I would love to tell you that Jay is not the piece of shit that so many people told me he was gonna end up being. I'd love to tell you that. But actually, this piece of shit is here right now." (00:57, Todd)
- Both reflect on the simplicity and low-maintenance nature of their friendship, underscoring the importance of keeping a trusted circle small and drama-free.
- Quote: "If you let too many people in ... it just gives more room for drama." (07:03, Jay)
- Jay admits to feeling left out when Todd was released and didn’t call right away, quickly returned with humor and affection.
- Quote: "I was pissed when you got out, though, and you didn’t text me right away. I was a little, you know, butthurt." (07:29, Jay)
2. Career & Personal Evolution Post-Setback
- Jay discusses the abrupt end to Rascal Flatts' tour due to COVID and how the break, though unplanned, gave him greater appreciation for performing and his fans.
- Quote: "Now we don’t have to call it a farewell tour. We can just do shows ... as we want to." (03:25, Jay)
- Todd describes turning down TV offers but ultimately returning to multiple projects with renewed gratitude.
- Quote: "It was a humbling experience ... When you don’t appreciate what you have until you don’t have it." (04:43, Todd)
- Both men talk about being able to choose what they love more intentionally, rather than being forced by necessity or public expectation.
3. Family Updates & Parenting Reflections
- Jay gives updates on his son Dylan’s viral musical moment and agrees to bring him on the podcast, Todd gushes with pride.
- Quote: "He’s just been on top of the world." (02:44, Jay)
- Todd shares gratitude for family resilience: Chase’s eight months sobriety, Grayson thriving at Alabama in the honors society, and Savannah’s supportive, protective nature.
- Emotional transparency about the challenge and pain of losing time with children and the nuances of parenting adult kids.
- Quote: "That was the hardest part for me because ... not being able to parent." (17:41, Todd)
- Jay and Todd both relate to watching their kids become independent, an experience both joyous and bittersweet.
4. Struggles, Faith, and Healing
- Todd recounts his anxiety during the legal saga, crediting faith and prayer (especially with Julie) for getting through.
- Quote: "I was on my knees every night ... praying and asking God to ... give us the strength to keep moving forward." (11:39, Todd)
- Jay reflects on his own anxieties and acknowledges Todd’s resilience under pressure.
- Both agree adversity has made them and their marriages stronger.
5. Caregiving and Loss
- Jay discusses his mother’s rapidly progressing Alzheimer’s—her memory loss, his grief, and the emotional complexity of long-term caregiving.
- Quote: "There’s not really much of the woman that I remember as my mother left." (26:34, Jay)
- The two men empathize about losing their fathers and maintaining tangible memories through voicemails and letters.
- Quote: "Sometimes I’ll sit by myself in the study and listen to voicemails and just get a good cry out..." (29:59, Jay)
6. Industry Talk: Red Street Records and Mentorship
- Jay shares his new focus—running Red Street Records, signing new talent, and finding fulfillment in mentoring artists.
- Quote: "It’s been fun for me to be on the other side of the business for a little bit..." (13:15, Jay)
- He recounts guiding Chase and the challenge of getting younger people (including his own children) to heed advice.
7. Cultural Shifts, Social Media, and Political Divides
- Both express frustration over the intensifying polarization on social media and in society.
- Quote: "If we disagree on something, you’re automatically an enemy." (33:10, Jay)
- Todd details media and public reactions post-pardon, noting the surprising source of most criticism.
- Quote: "Any negativity we’ve gotten has mostly come from white females. White, conservative females." (42:59, Todd)
- They debate the impact of technology on civility and the waning ability for healthy debate and disagreement.
8. Inside Stories: Life in Prison and Systemic Injustice
- Todd gives a behind-the-scenes account of his prison experience—revealing the inhumane conditions, mismanagement, and his role in advocating for inmates.
- Humorous misunderstandings: "He said he used to 'sling bricks'—I thought he was talking construction!" (47:18, Todd)
- Abuse of power and lack of accountability among staff, wasteful spending, and systemic incompetence.
- Quote: "Me and two other guys was helping the case managers do the calculations to get the men out of there because the case managers didn’t know how to do it." (76:20, Todd)
- Todd describes helping secure the early release of over 100 wrongly held inmates and his ongoing advocacy for penal reform.
- Quote: "Since May 28, I've gotten 116 out." (79:04, Todd)
- They discuss recent improvements under new BOP leadership and the First Step Act, but acknowledge ongoing failures and the challenge of meaningful reform.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Humor & Resilience:
- Todd: "I got one little word on my penis. It says little, but when I get excited, it says Little Rock, Arkansas." (82:21)
- On Loyalty:
- Jay: "Buddy, I love you, and I’m so happy that you’re back. I missed you. While you were gone, life was not the same." (82:05)
- On Criticism and Moving Forward:
- Todd: "I was so bitter when it happened, but I don’t have bitterness in my heart anymore. I don’t have anger. I don’t have resentment." (24:15)
- On Political Discourse:
- Todd: "If you identify as a fucking tree, be the best damn tree you can be ... but don’t expect me to fertilize you." (38:10)
- On Systemic Abuse:
- Todd: "It’s not slipping through. It’s intentional ... For someone to be sitting there, away from their children for another 11 months because the case manager is refusing to do their job." (79:18)
Key Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------| | 00:24 | Opening banter and humor about Jay’s “betrayal”| | 02:32 | Dylan’s viral music moment | | 03:25 | Touring, COVID’s impact, new career attitude | | 04:43 | Todd’s break from TV, new perspective | | 07:03 | On keeping the friends circle small | | 11:39 | Prayer, faith, and enduring adversity | | 13:15 | Jay on Red Street Records, new roles | | 15:12 | Parents balancing independence, kids leaving | | 17:41 | Reflections on parenting while incarcerated | | 24:15 | Letting go of bitterness | | 26:34 | Jay’s mother’s Alzheimer’s journey | | 29:59 | Keeping audio memories of late parents | | 33:10 | Social media toxicity & polarization | | 41:56 | Todd on unexpected critics post-pardon | | 50:25 | Todd describes daily life inside prison | | 65:01 | BOP corruption, budget misuse, closure of facility| | 71:13 | Systemic indifference in federal government | | 79:01 | Todd securing early releases for inmates | | 82:05 | Jay: “Life wasn’t the same when you were gone”| | 82:21 | Todd’s “Little Rock, Arkansas” joke |
Tone and Style
Conversation tone is deeply candid, raw, sometimes irreverent, often playful and self-deprecating—equally capable of roasting one another as they are reflecting on real wounds. They pivot from laughter to gravity with ease, delivering unfiltered insights that blend streetwise humor, faith, Southern family lore, and hard-won wisdom.
Summary for New Listeners
This episode embodies everything fans love about Chrisley Confessions: tear-inducing laughs, honest talk about big issues (family, failure, politics, forgiveness), and an unfiltered glimpse into both celebrity and real life. Jay and Todd’s friendship is a model of low-drama, high-loyalty connection. For those who missed the Chrisleys' voices during their absence, this is an episode packed with revelations, behind-the-scenes stories, and heartfelt encouragement to face adversity with faith and humor.
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