TAYLOR SWIFT RELEASES COUNTRY-LEANING ORIGINAL SONG FOR DISNEY AND PIXAR’S ‘TOY STORY 5,’ SPARKING OSCAR SPECULATION. (PHOTO).

 Taylor Swift releases country-leaning original song for Disney and Pixar’s ‘Toy Story 5,’ sparking Oscar speculation

   Taylor Swift has released a new original song for Disney and Pixar’s upcoming “Toy Story 5,” marking a country-leaning return for the singer who first rose to fame in Nashville.

The track, titled “I Knew It, I Knew You,” dropped Friday and features classic country-inspired elements, including live instrumentation, banjo, and a harmonica intro. While Swift does not use a traditional country twang throughout the song, the production nods to her early musical roots.

The release is Swift’s first new original music since her October album “The Life of a Showgirl.” It also reunites her with producer Jack Antonoff, a longtime collaborator who has worked with her across multiple albums over the past decade.

Swift reflected on the project in a social media post, saying writing the song felt both like “a musical departure and coming home at the same time.” She said creating music for the character Jessie was a new challenge that still felt familiar, adding that she has been a “Toy Story” fan since childhood.

Promotion for the song began last weekend, when cryptic “TS”-branded billboards styled after the “Toy Story” logo appeared in major cities around the world, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Toronto, Mexico City and London.

Swift later confirmed the release in a social media post, saying she had long dreamed of writing for the franchise. She also revealed that limited CD singles went on sale, including versions of the track from the film, an acoustic version, and a piano version. The items quickly sold out.

The film’s director and writer praised Swift’s contribution, saying her understanding of the character Jessie made the song feel like it had always been part of the “Toy Story” universe, describing the collaboration as “kismet.”

With the film set for a worldwide theatrical release on June 19, the song is now eligible for awards consideration, depending on how it is used in the final cut of the movie. Industry rules also specify placement requirements for original songs to qualify.

That eligibility has already sparked online speculation about whether the track could become an awards contender in the best original song category. If submitted and nominated, a win would move Swift one step closer to EGOT status, as she already holds multiple Grammy Awards and an Emmy, with only an Oscar and Tony remaining to complete the milestone.