Taylor Swift surprised her followers and animated film lovers with the release of “I Knew It, I Knew You,” an original song created for the long-awaited “Toy Story 5.” The artist, 36, premiered the song on Friday, June 5 and, true to her style, decided to accompany the announcement with a nostalgic video from her childhood: a little Swift dressed as a cowgirl, with a red and white hat, boots and matching skirt, while walking through a room with her characteristic curly hair.

The song represents a double movement in the singer's career. On the one hand, it represents a return to his musical roots: country. On the other, it is an emotional exploration of the Pixar universe. "Writing this song was like a musical change and, at the same time, like coming home. Creating something for Jessie was a new challenge and, at the same time, something very natural," Swift wrote on Instagram.

The interpreter confessed her love for the franchise since she was five years old, when she saw the first film. “Being a fan of @toystory from the age of 5 until now… is an adventure that I plan to continue living to infinity and beyond,” he added, in a direct nod to Buzz Lightyear's famous phrase.

Song composed with Jack Antonoff

In her publication, Swift thanked the director and screenwriter Andrew Stanton for having thought of her for this project, as well as the legendary Randy Newman, responsible for the saga's sound universe. “You created the musical world of Toy Story, and we are lucky to be able to live in it,” he said. The song was composed with his frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff.

The release comes days after Swift shared the cover of the single, where she sports loose curls with a bohemian-western style. “I Knew It, I Knew You” is her first release of new music since her twelfth studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” released on October 3, 2025.

For his part, Andrew Stanton declared: "It's incredible how meaningful it has been for Taylor to write and perform this song. Her connection with Jessie was undeniable." He added: “Listening to it for the first time, I felt like I had always belonged in “Toy Story,” like a long-lost family member.”

The promotion included billboards in cities like Chicago and London, and even a video of Jessie dancing in front of one of them, with the caption: “She's improvising on the fly,” a clear allusion to “Shake It Off.”

Toy Story 5 will hit theaters on June 19, a date that also coincides with the anniversary of the release of Swift's first single, “Tim McGraw.”