Taylor Swift just made history with her new song for Toy Story 5. The pop superstar wrote and recorded “I Knew It, I Knew You” for the upcoming Pixar movie, breaking a franchise record that started when the first Toy Story came out in 1995.
For over three decades, composer Randy Newman wrote every original song for every Toy Story movie. His track “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” became one of the most recognized theme songs in animation history. But Swift’s new ballad changes all of that.
The song dropped on June 5, 2026, and fans are already calling it a masterpiece. It also marks Swift’s return to her country music roots after years of pop dominance.
The Song That Broke Randy Newman’s 31-Year Run
Randy Newman has been the musical heart of Toy Story since the beginning. He wrote and performed “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” for the 1995 original, which earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. He returned for Toy Story 2 in 1999, Toy Story 3 in 2010, and Toy Story 4 in 2019. Each film featured his original songs.
Until now, no other artist had contributed an original song to any Toy Story movie. Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” is the first non-Newman original track in franchise history. The song was written and produced by Swift and her frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff.
Newman did not get replaced. He returned to score Toy Story 5, marking his tenth collaboration with Pixar. But for the first time, another songwriter shares space on the soundtrack with an original piece.
Swift Wrote the Song After Watching an Early Screening
The idea for “I Knew It, I Knew You” came to Swift immediately after she saw an early cut of Toy Story 5. She wrote on Instagram that she fell “instantly in love” with the movie when she saw it in its early stages.
“I wrote this song as soon as I got home from the screening. Sometimes you just know, right?”
The song centers on Jessie, the cowgirl doll voiced by Joan Cusack who first appeared in Toy Story 2. Swift has said Jessie’s emotional journey throughout the franchise spoke directly to her. She told ABC News that Jessie experiences heartbreak, triumph, loss, and major character growth in the fifth film.
“Just the feeling that, like, sometimes people’s paths diverge, and that doesn’t mean that that’s the last time that you get to feel those memories or know that person,” Swift explained.
The Song Already Shattered Streaming Records
“I Knew It, I Knew You” became the most-streamed country song by a female artist in a single day in Spotify history shortly after its release. The track combines Swift’s early country sound with her modern storytelling style.
Fans on social media celebrated her return to country music. One fan wrote, “Tay has got her cowgirl boots back on!” Another said, “Country Tay is BACK and I’m not okay.”
Swift also released three CD editions of the single: the standard version from the film, an acoustic rendition, and a special piano version with unique vocals. All three versions started shipping on June 19, the same day the movie opens in theaters.
A Childhood Dream Come True at the Premiere
Swift attended the Toy Story 5 world premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on June 9, 2026. She walked the red carpet holding a very special item: her personal VHS copy of the original 1995 Toy Story film, which she had kept for over 30 years.
She asked Tom Hanks, the voice of Woody, to autograph the tape. Hanks joked to USA Today that the cassette “could go in the Smithsonian.” Tim Allen also signed it, adding Buzz Lightyear’s famous catchphrase “To infinity and beyond.” Other cast members joined in, leaving Swift holding the signed tape like a devoted fan from the 1990s.
After the screening, Swift changed from her red carpet dress into a floor-length yellow gown and sat at a grand piano to perform “I Knew It, I Knew You” live for the very first time. Then she brought out Randy Newman for a duet of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” Newman played piano while the pair traded verses of the 1995 classic. The audience gave them a standing ovation.
The Music Video Shows Jessie’s Emotional Journey
Swift also released a music video for the song, available on Spotify and Apple Music. The video features footage from Toy Story 5 showing Jessie meeting Woody for the first time with Bullseye in the background. It also shows flashbacks of Jessie’s previous owner leaving her in a donation box, driving away in a red car.
The video ends with a young red-haired girl who looks like Jessie playing with the cowgirl doll on a tire swing and falling into a pile of leaves. The imagery connects directly to the song’s themes of memory, loss, and reconnection.
What This Means for Swift’s Oscar Chances
Every previous Toy Story film received a Best Original Song nomination at the Academy Awards. “I Knew It, I Knew You” could continue that tradition and give Swift her first Oscar nomination. She has never won an Academy Award despite multiple Golden Globe and Grammy wins.
Director Andrew Stanton praised Swift’s connection to the material. “It’s incredible just how meaningful it’s been having Taylor write and perform this song. Her connection to Jessie and the immediate way she understood what the character was going through was undeniable,” Stanton said in a statement.
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Toy Story 5 Release Date and Cast
Toy Story 5 arrives in theaters on June 19, 2026. The release date also marks the 20th anniversary of Swift’s debut single “Tim McGraw.” The film is directed by Andrew Stanton and features returning voice cast including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack as Jessie, and Keanu Reeves. Greta Lee voices the new villain Lilypad, a frog-shaped tablet that threatens the toys’ place in Bonnie’s world.
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