Taylor Swift’s Return to Country with ‘Toy Story 5’ Song

Taylor Swift has released a new song for Disney and Pixar’s upcoming “Toy Story 5” film. The song, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” marks a return to country music roots for Swift, who first gained fame in Nashville. Although her voice doesn’t have a pronounced twang, the track includes elements typical of country music, such as live instrumentation, a plucky banjo, and harmonica.

Swift’s Country Music Journey

The last time Swift officially delved into country music was with her 2012 album “Red,” though it contained crossover elements. Her previous pure country album was “Speak Now,” released over 15 years ago. “I Knew It, I Knew You” is also Swift’s first original material since the release of “The Life of a Showgirl” in October.

The song was co-produced with Jack Antonoff. Their collaboration began with Swift’s 2014 album “1989” and continued through “The Tortured Poets Department” in 2024. Swift remarked that writing the song felt like both a departure and a return, particularly as it was created for the “Toy Story” character Jessie.

“Writing this song felt like a musical departure and coming home at the same time. Creating something for Jessie was a new challenge and also felt like second nature all at once,” Swift wrote on social media. “And being a ‘Toy Story’ kid from the age of 5 til now… is an adventure I plan to be on, to infinity and beyond.”

Marketing and Release

Last weekend, billboards with the initials “TS,” styled like the “Toy Story” logo, appeared in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and London. On Monday, Swift confirmed on Instagram that the song would be released, sharing her enthusiasm for writing for “Toy Story” characters and announcing preorder options for three CD single versions. These versions included the film rendition, an acoustic version, and a piano version, all of which quickly sold out.

“Toy Story 5” director Andrew Stanton expressed joy over Swift’s involvement, emphasizing her strong connection to the character Jessie and the song’s integral role in the film.

“The song is so deeply connected to ‘Toy Story,'” Stanton said. “It instantly felt like it had always belonged there, like a long-lost family member. It was kismet.”

Oscar Contention Speculation

Fans have speculated whether “I Knew It, I Knew You” could be an Oscar contender for Best Original Song. For a 2027 Academy Awards consideration, the film and song must have a theatrical release between January 1 and December 31. “Toy Story 5” is set for a June 19 release, meeting the criteria.

This year’s rules state that if a song plays over the end credits, it must overlap with the final 15 seconds before credits begin. Should Swift’s song be submitted and win, she would be closer to achieving EGOT status, having already earned 14 Grammy Awards and an Emmy. An Oscar win would leave her needing only a Tony, raising speculation about a possible future on Broadway.