Taylor Swift has officially confirmed long-running rumours linking her to Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5, announcing that she has written and recorded an original song for the highly anticipated animated sequel.
The 14-time Grammy Award winner revealed that her new track, I Knew It, I Knew You, will feature prominently in Toy Story 5, which arrives exclusively in cinemas on June 19.
The song, written and produced by Swift alongside longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, will be released on streaming platforms and digital stores this Friday, June 5, before appearing on the film's official soundtrack later this month.
(L to R) Woody, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack, Jessie and Greta Lee attend the UK Launch Event of Disney and Pixar's 'Toy Story 5' at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London on May 28th, 2026. (Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited)
The announcement comes just weeks after the record-breaking success of Swift's latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, and confirms speculation sparked by a series of mysterious "TS" billboards that appeared in cities including London, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto and Mexico City over the weekend.
According to Disney and Pixar, the song was inspired by fan-favourite character Jessie, the adventurous cowgirl first introduced in Toy Story 2.
(L-R): Bullseye and Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack) in Disney and Pixar's TOY STORY 5. Photo courtesy of Disney/Pixar. © 2025 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
The track is also said to mark a return to Swift's country music roots, blending the storytelling style that launched her career with the pop sensibilities that have helped make her one of the world's biggest artists.
Toy Story 5 director and screenwriter Andrew Stanton praised Swift's contribution to the film.
"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."
He 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. It was kismet."
(L-R): Woody and Buzz Lightyear in Disney and Pixar's TOY STORY 5. Photo courtesy of Pixar. © 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
Fans will also be able to purchase three exclusive CD editions of the single through Swift's online store. The releases will feature the version heard in the film, alongside special acoustic and piano versions with unique vocals and production.
The collaboration marks another major milestone in Swift's career, which has seen her dominate both the music industry and popular culture over the past two decades. Since breaking through as a teenage country singer in the mid-2000s, she has evolved into one of the most commercially successful artists of all time, selling millions of albums worldwide and earning a record-breaking collection of awards.
In recent years, Swift's Eras Tour became one of the highest-grossing concert tours in history, while her series of re-recorded "Taylor's Version" albums helped reshape conversations around artist ownership in the music business.
Meanwhile, Toy Story 5 will see the return of beloved characters including Woody, voiced by Tom Hanks, Buzz Lightyear, voiced by Tim Allen, and Jessie, voiced by Joan Cusack.
Joan Cusack with Jessie attends the UK Launch Event of Disney and Pixar's 'Toy Story 5' at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London on May 28th, 2026. (Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited)
This time, the toys face a new challenge when they come up against modern technology in the form of Lilypad, a tablet device voiced by Greta Lee, whose arrival threatens to change the way their owner, Bonnie, plays.
The film is directed by Academy Award winner Andrew Stanton, co-directed by Kenna Harris, and features an original score by legendary composer Randy Newman, who returns for his fifth Toy Story film.
Following the official announcement, Swift's involvement is likely to add even more excitement to one of the year's most anticipated family releases, while giving fans their first taste of new music since the success of The Life of a Showgirl.
