Taylor Swift just did what no Disney song has ever done before
Her new track from Toy Story 5 debuted at the very top of the Billboard charts with over 27 million streams.
We expect Disney songs to make us cry, but we rarely expect them to rule the pop charts overnight. That changed this week when a new track shattered a record that stood for decades.
WHAT HAPPENED
Taylor Swift released a new song called "I Knew It, I Knew You." It is part of the soundtrack for the upcoming Pixar film, Toy Story 5.
The movie does not even come out until June 19, 2026. Yet, the song just made history. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
No Disney song has ever started at the top spot before. The track mixes country and pop sounds to win over millions of listeners.
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
Over 27 million streams in the United States alone during its first week.
- This is Taylor Swift's 15th number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
- First Disney song in history to debut at number one.
- Released months ahead of the movie's premiere on June 19, 2026.
THE BIGGER QUESTION
Why does Disney need the world's biggest pop star to sell a movie that already has a huge fan base? Toy Story is already a giant brand.
This shows how film studios now rely on giant music stars to secure a box office win before a single ticket goes on sale.
THE OTHER SIDE
Some music critics say this record is more about Taylor Swift's massive fan base than the quality of the song itself. They argue that her fans will buy and stream anything she releases, which skews the true appeal of the movie music.
Still, the numbers do not lie, and the sheer volume of streams shows a massive, genuine reach.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
This change could push other movie studios to hire massive pop stars for their soundtracks. We might see more radio-friendly hits packed into family films.
For regular families, it means the songs your kids sing will sound a lot more like top-40 radio.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
How much does this song actually tell us about the plot of Toy Story 5?
- Will the track stay at the top of the charts until the movie releases in 2026?
- How much did Disney pay to get this high-profile partnership?
Transparency notes
Published: Jun 15, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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Sources
External source links were not provided in this article body. Our editors reference publicly available materials and update stories as new verified information arrives.