She was five years old the first time she watched ‘Toy Story’. Twenty years later, Disney called. She wrote the song the same night she saw the film.
Image Source: Instagram
Taylor Swift has confirmed that she is releasing brand-new original song titled “I Knew It, I Knew You” for Disney and Pixar’s ‘Toy Story 5’. The announcement came after weeks of fan speculation and followed a countdown clock on her website.
Swift shared the news on her website and Instagram, writing: “I’ve always dreamed of getting to write for these characters who I’ve adored since I was a 5 year old kid watching the first Toy Story movie.”
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She added: “I fell instantly in love with Toy Story 5 when I was lucky enough to see it in its early stages, and I wrote this song as soon as I got home from the screening. Sometimes you just know, right?”
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The song was written and produced by Swift alongside Jack Antonoff. It releases on all streaming and purchase platforms on Friday, June 5.
This marks Antonoff’s return to working with Swift after his last collaboration on her album “The Tortured Poets Department.”
The single will be featured on the Toy Story 5 soundtrack, which releases on June 19, the same date the film opens in theaters.
Pre-sales are currently live on Swift’s website for three exclusive CD editions. These include the song as it appears in the film, a special acoustic version, and a special piano version, each with unique vocals and production. The limited-edition CDs are available through Wednesday afternoon and will ship on June 19.
Disney describes the song as inspired by Jessie, the cowgirl character whose journey in Toy Story 5 began back in Toy Story 2. The song marks a return to Swift’s country roots, blending styles that have defined her career as a songwriter and artist.
Disney’s official press release used the phrase “rootin’ tootin’ cowgirl” to describe Jessie and tied the country direction of the song directly to the character. Swift herself did not label the song’s genre in her own statements. The country framing came from Disney’s side of the announcement.
“I Knew It, I Knew You” is Swift’s first release since her record-breaking album The Life of a Showgirl.
Toy Story 5 director and writer Andrew Stanton said in a statement: “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 added: “The song is so deeply connected to Toy Story. So much so that on first listen, it instantly felt like it had always belonged there, like a long-lost family member.”
The announcement did not come without a long buildup. Speculation began on April 30 when Swift’s website briefly displayed a Toy Story-themed cloud countdown. It was only visible for about 10 minutes, but it was enough to set fans talking.
Over the weekend before the announcement, billboards with the initials “TS” appeared in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Toronto, Mexico City, and London. The initials stood for both Taylor Swift and Toy Story.
The artwork for Swift’s re-recorded album 1989 (Taylor’s Version) also quietly changed, replacing seagulls in the background with clouds, a visual cue pointing toward the Toy Story franchise.
Disney and Pixar added to the speculation by posting photos and videos of the billboards on social media. They paired them with Taylor Swift lyric captions.
On the morning of June 1, another countdown on Swift’s website built up to a reveal at 2 p.m. ET.
Toy Story 5 follows Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang as they face a new enemy. It’s Lilypad, a tablet device. The film centers on the threat Lilypad poses to the toys’ playtime and reflects on the modern rise of technology.
The movie includes original cast favorites along with new additions. Conan O’Brien, Matty Matheson, and Bad Bunny are among the new voices joining the franchise.
The film opens in theaters on June 19, 2026.
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