Joan Cusack cheers Taylor Swift’s Jessie song for Toy Story 5

Joan Cusack, the voice of Jessie in Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story franchise, is thrilled about Taylor Swift’s new country single “I Knew It, I Knew You,” written for Toy Story 5. Swift says creating the track felt like both a musical departure and a homecoming as t

Joan Cusack didn’t just recognize Taylor Swift’s new song for Jessie—she lit up at the idea that the music had landed the way she hoped it would.

On June 5, Swift released “I Knew It, I Knew You,” a country track written for the upcoming Disney/Pixar animated movie “Toy Story 5,” which arrives in theaters on June 19. Cusack, who has played cowgirl Jessie in the “Toy Story” movies since 1999, said the connection immediately felt real.

“It’s such a good song,” Cusack told MISRYOUM. “I love this movie so much, so I’m so glad that it resonated with her and she wanted to write a song for it, because it means so many more people come to see the movie.”

Cusack called the film “a great girl-power movie,” adding that Swift’s song “is so great. It’s beautiful and it fits perfectly.”

Swift’s “cowgirl era” is clearly something Cusack wants more people to see—especially with a Jessie-inspired storyline at the center of “Toy Story 5.” Swift revealed in an Instagram post that “writing this song felt like a musical departure and coming home at the same time.” She said creating something for Jessie was both “a new challenge” and “also felt like second nature all at once.”.

The pop star also described herself as a “Toy Story” kid since age 5, saying it’s “an adventure I plan to be on, to infinity and beyond.”

A music video for “I Knew It” streaming on Spotify and Apple Music leans hard into Jessie nostalgia and forward momentum. It pairs major Jessie moments from earlier “Toy Story” movies with key characters. including Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). The video also includes footage from the new film. showing a young girl playing with Jessie while spinning in a tire swing.

Swift’s enthusiasm has been matched by swift momentum from listeners. The ballad, written by Swift with longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, is already climbing while the movie is still weeks away.

In a June message on X, Swift said she “fell instantly in love with ‘Toy Story 5’ when I was lucky enough to see it in its early stages,” and that she wrote the song “as soon as I got home from the screening. Sometimes you just know, right?”

The “Toy Story 5” story picks up as Jessie takes on a significant role alongside Woody, Buzz and others. The group is dealing with their young owner Bonnie becoming more interested in a high-tech tablet than them.

For fans, the song’s early reach has turned that behind-the-scenes excitement into something measurable. In its first day of release. “I Knew It. I Knew You” became the most-streamed country song in a single day by a female artist in Spotify history. Apple Music announced the ballad was the biggest country single of 2026. breaking the platform’s all-time record for largest first-day performance by a soundtrack single. Amazon Music also said the tune delivered the biggest first 24-hour global streaming debut for any song released this year.

The results land with Cusack’s approval—because for her, it’s not just about a chart or a catchy chorus. It’s about more people showing up for the movie, and a character she’s carried in “Toy Story” for decades getting a song that feels like it belongs.

Joan Cusack Taylor Swift Toy Story 5 Jessie I Knew It I Knew You Jack Antonoff Disney Pixar streaming records Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music