Chase Chrisley Talks Impact of Parents’ Imprisonment: ‘Humbled Me’ (Exclusive) ArticlePure

The unexpected happened within the Chrisley family as Todd and Julie Chrisley were convicted and later imprisoned for fraud and tax evasion. And in their absence, their son Chase Chrisley knew he needed to step up.

“I try to find a positive in every negative,” the Chase Chrisley Collection founder tells PEOPLE exclusively. “My parents going away, even though it was a terrible situation, I had to learn a lot of lessons I probably wouldn’t have learned until way later on in life.”

“It definitely humbled me and showed me what the important things in life are and what to really be appreciative of,” he adds.

Chase notes that when his parents reported to prison in January 2023, it presented him with the opportunity to prove to himself that he’s capable of more.

“It was the first time in my life that I was like, ‘All right, I need to prove to myself that I can do this alone,'” he explains. “Also, earn the respect of my dad, obviously, and earn the respect for myself that I could do it on my own, and I didn’t need my mom or my dad to fall back on, even though I know that they would be there for me.”

“It was time to pull it together and show myself I could do it,” he says.

Chase focused on building the Chase Chrisley Collection as well as his roofing business. He is also in the process of launching his all-new zero-alcohol seltzer brand, Gold Drop, amid his sobriety journey.

“It’s been in the making for quite some time, honestly,” he shares of Gold Drop, out July 1. “Obviously, I’ve had my difficulty [and] my struggle with alcohol. It makes the highs, highs and it makes the lows, lower. So I think that going through what we went through with my family, and then my personal journey, and my struggles, it’s time for me just to put alcohol down. We just don’t agree with each other.”

The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more!

The reality star, who is also currently serving as an executive producer on his family’s new Lifetime docuseries, says he “wanted to put a product out there that is zero alcohol, it’s good for you and has all natural things from the earth.”

“There’s no additives in it, and it’s a sexy can. So, you can still be out, and you can still drink, you can drink this, and it’d be a healthy alternative,” he adds. “So maybe some people don’t have to make the same mistakes that I did.”

The Chrisley Knows Best alum learned his work ethic from his father, Todd.

“He’s always raised me and the rest of my siblings up, too, ‘If you want to be the boss, you have to be willing to do every single job. So ask somebody to do a job that you’re not willing to do,'” he explains.

“I feel like it’s my job as one of the owners of the [roofing] company [I helped create], is to get out there, and set the example, and show the people that are working with me and for me that, ‘I’m willing to do everything that you’re willing to do,'” he continues. “It’s more of a respect thing. I don’t want anyone to think that I think I’m above them, because I am not.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

With that, Chase concludes, “I’m far from perfect, but God blessed me with an amazing opportunity. And if I can help somebody else get further along in their career, their life, or provide for their families, then I feel like I’m being a good steward.”

Todd and Julie were released from prison on May 28 after receiving full pardons from President Donald Trump. Before that, Chase says he “knew deep down” that “this is not the end” for his parents.

“I feel like I was just carrying around, just waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting for something to happen. And thank God to President Trump, something did. Something great happened,” he shares. “It’s like a weight lifted off my shoulders, because I don’t think it’s fully sunk in for me that, ‘Okay, it’s over.'”

Chase adds, “There’s a battle that we fought for so long. But I mean, just being able to go over and see my mom and dad hug each other, and spend quality time with them without somebody around us, it’s a beautiful, beautiful thing.”