Taylor Swift’s three-hour countdown ended June 1 with an original song, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” tied to “Toy Story 5.” The single arrives June 5, alongside three $3.99 collector’s-edition CD singles sold through June 3.
Taylor Swift let the countdown run down to the last second on June 1—then, like clockwork, a new song appeared for fans to hold onto. The music teaser wrapped a three-hour countdown that expired at 2 p.m. ET, and the payoff was immediate: an original track titled “I Knew It, I Knew You.”
The single is set for release June 5. On the same day. Swift’s online store rolled out three collector’s-edition CD singles—“I Knew It. I Knew You. ” “I Knew It. I Knew You (Acoustic Version). ” and “I Knew It. I Knew You (Piano Version)”—each priced at $3.99 and available through June 3 while supplies last.
Swift also framed the moment with a visual scene on her homepage. The cartoon-style setting featured a farmhouse and barn, and the fan-favorite cowgirl Jessie appears inside. At the end of the countdown, three CDs popped up for fans to buy: the single, an acoustic version, and a piano version.
The song is not just a new release—it’s presented by Swift as part of “Toy Story 5.” In announcing the track on her website June 1, she linked it to the upcoming film and characterized the music as a return to her country roots.
The lead-up was its own kind of economic-sized attention—fan theories that snowballed, then hardened into expectations. The speculation kicked off April 30. when Swift’s website briefly displayed a countdown with “Toy Story”-style clouds and a yellow timer. That countdown stayed on the site for roughly 10 minutes before disappearing. leaving fans to focus on what came next: a countdown pointing to May 2.
After May 2 arrived with no announcement, Swifties didn’t stop looking. On May 29. they spotted billboards in Chicago. London and Dallas carrying the franchise’s signature blue-sky backdrop and the letters “TS”—initials shared by both Taylor Swift and “Toy Story.” The background included 13 white clouds. a number Swift has long been associated with.
As the rumors spread beyond the internet, “Toy Story 5” leadership addressed the noise directly. During an interview at Pixar headquarters, director Andrew Stanton—joined by co-director McKenna Harris and producer Lindsey Collins—was asked about fan speculation linking Swift to the film.
“It surprised us. What a freakin’ honor,” Stanton said about the online speculation sparked by Swift’s countdown and the “Toy Story”-style imagery. Collins added, “It would be pretty amazing.”
Stanton also pushed back on a major theory: that Swift would perform the movie’s ending song. “The sad truth is we watched the movie being mixed last week and the song on the end was not Taylor Swift,” he said.
While Stanton addressed that specific claim, he did not comment on broader speculation about a potential collaboration. A couple days after his comments. the movie’s production company released an Instagram Reel directly tying Swift to the fifth installment. The post showed Jessie dancing to Swift’s “Shake It Off. ” with a caption referencing one of Swift’s biggest hits: “She’s making those moves up as she goes!”.
This new release now places the storyline in a different position: the countdown. the billboards. and the Jessie imagery all moved from “clues” to a confirmed song tied to “Toy Story 5. ” with a clear release date and a sales push built into the rollout. The structure is what fans have been chasing—timing, packaging, and a story that keeps unfolding as the calendar turns.
Beyond the entertainment buzz, an “I Knew It, I Knew You” moment also carries awards-season gravity. A “Toy Story 5” collaboration could put Swift back in the conversation for an Academy Award. an honor she has yet to win. She already owns 14 Grammys. and industry observers have long speculated about her pursuit of EGOT status—the achievement of winning an Emmy. Grammy. Oscar and Tony Award.
Swift’s soundtrack track record includes “Crazier” for “Hannah Montana: The Movie. ” “Today Was a Fairytale” for “Valentine’s Day. ” “Safe & Sound” and “Eyes Open” for “The Hunger Games. ” “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” for “Fifty Shades Darker. ” “Beautiful Ghosts” for “Cats. ” and “Carolina” for “Where the Crawdads Sing.” “Beautiful Ghosts” earned a Golden Globe nomination. while “Safe & Sound” won a Grammy for best song written for visual media.
For fans waiting through the countdowns and the billboards, June 5 now functions as the next deadline—not a mystery. And with CDs priced at $3.99 and available through June 3 while supplies last. the moment isn’t only about the single landing. It’s about how fast Swift turns anticipation into a tangible purchase. right down to the acoustic and piano versions included in the collector’s set.
Taylor Swift Toy Story 5 I Knew It I Knew You countdown country music roots collector's edition CD EGOT Oscars Grammys Andrew Stanton Jessie Shake It Off