Taylor Swift’s contribution to “Toy Story 5” became a chart-topping success, but the song nearly never existed. Director Andrew Stanton approached the singer while she was still immersed in her record-setting Eras Tour, hoping she could follow in the footsteps of Randy Newman. Newman created the music and scores for the franchise’s first four films, including the beloved classic “You’ve Got a Friend.” Swift did not revisit the invitation until months later, after taking time to recover from the tour. By then, she was concerned that accepting the project could mean taking work away from another songwriter.
During a Q&A with Stanton on November 1, 2026, Swift said she came close to rejecting the opportunity because she did not want to displace a fellow artist. “I was repeatedly asking, ‘I know that it took me a couple months to come back to this project. Be honest: Did you guys replace me?'” she recalled at the special screening event. “‘I don’t want to kick somebody off of this project that you reached out to after [me]. I understand, but I’m not in the business of doing that.'”
Swift agreed to participate only after the filmmakers assured her that no replacement had been considered. “I found out that there was no other person on your mood board,” she quipped to Stanton during the discussion. The team told her they had decided not to include an end-credits song if she ultimately passed. Swift went on to write “I Knew It, I Knew You” with Jack Antonoff. The track played over the film’s closing credits and opened at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Taylor Swift drew inspiration from her brother and longtime best friend for Toy Story 5
Taylor Swift’s younger brother, Austin Swift, also played a role in persuading her to join “Toy Story 5.” After visiting Pixar Animation Studios and seeing early material from the movie, he felt certain its themes would resonate with her. “Sometimes we talk like siblings, and then sometimes we have business conversations that are like half sibling, half business. My brother does all my music synchs. … He calls me up and he’s like, ‘I really think you need to see the new ‘Toy Story 5.’ … You’re gonna love it,'” Swift recalled. When she asked why, Austin replied, “I signed an NDA, Taylor. I can’t tell you why.”
Swift said her brother’s prediction proved accurate. During the Q&A with Stanton, she explained that watching the finished film made his enthusiasm clear. “When I saw this brilliant film that Andrew made, I realized exactly why he knew I would love it,” she said. The story focuses on Jesse, Swift’s favorite character, while also exploring the strength of female friendship. Those themes brought to mind Swift’s childhood best friend, Abigail Anderson, despite the singer’s well-known history of complicated friendship breakups.
Swift and Anderson met in high school after Swift moved to Nashville at 14. Their friendship grew from a shared sense of humor and a willingness to be silly—qualities they continue to embrace. “When you find that person who just completely sees you for the strange, little genre that is you at your purest, that hit me so hard watching the film,” Swift said at the event. Fans once speculated that Anderson would serve as maid of honor at Swift’s high-profile wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce. Instead, Austin took on the unconventional role of man of honor for his older sister.