Taylor Swift has announced a new original song titled "I Knew It, I Knew You" for Toy Story 5, marking her return to the country genre after years focused on pop music. The single will be released on June 5, with CD variants available for preorder on Swift's website.
The song was written by Swift and her longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff. Three versions will be included on the CD releases: a piano version, an acoustic version, and the original track. The announcement came after days of online speculation fueled by mysterious billboards featuring the initials "TS" in Toy Story's signature blocky yellow font. The posters appeared in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Toronto, Mexico City, and London.
On Instagram, Swift explained her involvement in the project. "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," she 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. Sometimes you just know, right?"
The track was inspired by Jessie, the film's cowgirl character. Director Andrew Stanton praised Swift's contribution, noting her deep understanding of the character. "Her connection to Jessie and the immediate way she understood what the character was going through was undeniable," Stanton said. "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."
This represents Swift's first new music since releasing her record-breaking album The Life of a Showgirl in October 2025. In April, she released a video for the single "Elizabeth Taylor," which featured archive footage of the legendary actor.
Swift's return to country music comes after she transitioned to pop earlier in her career. Industry observers have noted that country radio stations remain willing to support Swift with material that resonates with the format. The release of "I Knew It, I Knew You" represents a significant moment for the superstar and the genre.
Toy Story 5 will be released worldwide on June 19. The film sees Buzz and Woody facing off against a tablet called Lilypad in a battle for playtime attention, according to the official trailer.