Taylor Swift has officially released “I Knew It, I Knew You,” a new original song written for the Toy Story 5 soundtrack, marking a return to her country-rooted storytelling style while tying into one of Pixar’s most anticipated releases of 2026. The track, out June 5 via Walt Disney Records, arrives after weeks of coordinated teaser activity across Swift’s digital ecosystem and Disney’s global promotional campaign.
The song was written and produced by Swift alongside longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff after she attended an early screening of Toy Story 5, where she reportedly drew inspiration from Jessie’s character arc. Positioned as a narrative-driven ballad, “I Knew It, I Knew You” reflects themes of memory, loyalty, and emotional continuity, aligning with a press description that frames the track as a return to Swift’s country foundations while incorporating elements from her broader pop and folk evolution.
Swift first began hinting at the release on April 30, 2026, when a 48-hour countdown briefly appeared on her official website, featuring a sky-blue background and cloud imagery strongly associated with Pixar’s Toy Story universe. Although the page was quickly removed, it sparked immediate speculation that a soundtrack collaboration was underway. The campaign accelerated in the following weeks, with Disney and Pixar deploying coordinated billboards in New York and Los Angeles featuring the initials “TS” against cloud visuals.
Momentum intensified on May 29, when Toy Story 5 promotional materials were updated globally, including altered versions of Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) artwork on streaming platforms. The seagull imagery was replaced with five cloud motifs, while Pixar posted a video of Jessie dancing atop a “TS” billboard, directly referencing Swift’s 2008 single “Shake It Off.” Additional easter eggs included Empire State Building cloud projections, TikTok search animations tied to Swift’s name, and curated Apple Music playlist changes highlighting fifth-track selections from her catalog.
On June 1, a second countdown appeared across Swift’s website and major city billboards, this time featuring Jessie, a barn illustration, and a clouded skyline framing the “TS” branding. When the timer expired at 14:00 EDT, the official title “I Knew It, I Knew You” was revealed alongside confirmation of its release date and soundtrack placement.
Physical editions are scheduled for June 19, including three CD singles featuring the film version, an acoustic cut, and a piano rendition, alongside two 10-inch vinyl variants containing the original and instrumental versions.
Swift has previously stated that she wanted to write for the Toy Story universe since childhood, citing the original 1995 film as formative. That long-standing connection was echoed by Toy Story 5 writer-director Andrew Stanton, who described the track as feeling like “a long-lost family member” upon first listen, reinforcing its intended emotional integration into the franchise.
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