Taylor Swift Returns to Country Roots with "I Knew It, I Knew You" for Toy Story 5 Soundtrack

Taylor Swift has announced an original song titled "I Knew It, I Knew You" for Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5, releasing June 5 across streaming platforms and retailers. The track marks her return to country music and was written alongside Jack Antonoff, inspired by the character Jessie. Three exclusive CD editions will be available for preorder on Swift's official website, each featuring different versions of the composition.

The Announcement and Marketing Campaign

Swift's involvement in the film was confirmed through a carefully orchestrated reveal. Billboards spelling out "TS"—a play on both Taylor Swift's initials and the Toy Story acronym—appeared across major cities including London, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Toronto, and Mexico City. A Toy Story-themed countdown launched on Swift's website, culminating in the June 1 announcement via Instagram, where she described her childhood connection to the franchise and her immediate creative response to seeing an early screening of the film.

"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," Swift wrote. "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."

Production and Creative Details

Director Andrew Stanton praised Swift's understanding of Jessie's character arc, which spans multiple films beginning with Toy Story 2. He noted that the song felt intrinsically connected to the narrative, describing it as a "long-lost family member" upon first listen. The collaboration represents Swift's first new music release since her October 2025 album "The Life of a Showgirl" and follows her April video for the single "Elizabeth Taylor."

Toy Story 5 arrives in cinemas June 19, with preview screenings on June 18. The film introduces Lilypad, a tablet device voiced by Greta Lee, as the central conflict opposing Woody and Buzz in their dynamic with Bonnie. The soundtrack will release alongside the film on June 19.