Taylor Swift made a nostalgic appearance at the June 9 Los Angeles premiere of Toy Story 5, arriving with a 30-year-old VHS copy of the original Toy Story that she later had signed by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. Swift was photographed holding the vintage tape as she greeted Hanks, who voices Woody, and Allen, who voices Buzz Lightyear. The moment drew attention on the red carpet as the actors signed the collectible, turning the premiere into a memorable crossover between pop culture and animation history.
Hanks later discussed the exchange in a red carpet interview with USA Today, noting that he signed the VHS but did not take a selfie with Swift. He joked that she should have brought a VHS player so the tape could have been played and signed in a way that might belong in the Smithsonian. The lighthearted comment underscored the uniqueness of the moment, which blended nostalgia, celebrity, and the long-running popularity of the Toy Story franchise.
Swift’s appearance at the premiere also connected to her involvement in Toy Story 5. She recorded an original song for the film titled “I Knew It, I Knew You,” written with longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff. The track marks her first release since her 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl. Released on June 5, the song quickly drew major streaming attention, with Apple Music calling it its biggest country single of 2026 and saying it set the all-time record for the biggest soundtrack single based on first-day plays.
Swift said in a June 1 Instagram post that the song was inspired by an early screening of Toy Story 5. In her caption, she said she had always dreamed of writing for the characters she loved since childhood and described falling in love with the film after seeing an early version. She said she wrote the song soon after returning home from the screening, reflecting her long-running connection to the franchise.
To celebrate the release, Swift shared a throwback video of herself dressed as a cowgirl, further emphasizing her childhood attachment to Toy Story. In the caption, she described creating something for Jessie as both a new challenge and something that felt natural, adding that being a Toy Story fan from age 5 has remained an adventure she plans to continue “to infinity and beyond.” She then followed the song’s debut by releasing its music video within hours.
The premiere moment, the signed VHS, and the new soundtrack contribution all highlighted Swift’s personal history with Toy Story and her ongoing influence across music and film.
