Taylor Swift reveals she wrote and recorded 'Toy Story 5' song in just eight hours

Taylor Swift has shared the whirlwind story behind her Toy Story 5 anthem, revealing that she wrote, recorded and produced the track in just eight hours after being struck by inspiration following an early screening of the film.

In a behind-the-scenes video shared on June 18, 2026, the singer explained that she experienced what she jokingly called the “songwriter zoomies” after watching the latest Pixar sequel. According to Billboard, Swift attended a screening at 11 am before rushing home and immediately beginning work on the end credits song, I Knew It, I Knew You.

“It’s been kind of a hectic day,” Swift said in the clip. “At 11 a.m., went to see Toy Story 5, got so inspired. Got the songwriter zoomies. Went home, wrote the end credit song for Toy Story 5.” She added that by 6:57 p.m., Disney chief Bob Iger and Pixar executives were due to hear the completed track, calling the experience “one of the most fun days of my life”.

Swift also shared childhood photos of herself and her younger brother Austin dressed in cowboy-inspired outfits, alongside memories from the Toy Story 5 premiere earlier this month. The post celebrated the film's June 19, 2026 release and reflected the singer's lifelong affection for the franchise.

The song, which was created with longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, was released on June 12, 2026, and quickly debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Swift's 15th chart-topper. The pair had previously spoken about how deeply the Toy Story films shaped their childhoods and inspired the creative process behind the track.

When announcing her involvement with the project, Swift said she had always dreamed of writing music for the beloved characters and that she began composing the song as soon as she arrived home from the screening. The singer also described Toy Story 5 as her favourite instalment in the franchise.

Released in cinemas on June 19, 2026, Toy Story 5 marks the first main entry in the Pixar series to feature an original song written by someone other than longtime composer Randy Newman. For Swift, the experience appears to have been both a childhood dream fulfilled and one of the quickest bursts of creativity in her career.