TAYLOR SWIFT OPENS OSCAR CAMPAIGN FOR 'I KNEW IT, I KNEW YOU' FROM TOY STORY 5 — REPORT

Taylor Swift has reportedly opened her first real Oscar campaign — per The Ankler — for the Toy Story 5 ballad "I Knew It, I Knew You." The report, published October 1, 2026 via Heavy.com, says The Ankler's Katey Rich made the claim at the September 27, 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. One framing note up front: this is a reported campaign, not a confirmed nomination.

The Ankler Report

According to reports, it was The Ankler's Katey Rich who said at the September 27, 2026 MTV Video Music Awards that Swift "may have opened her first real Oscar campaign" for the Toy Story 5 ballad, per Heavy.com's October 1, 2026 report. Rich's reported remark positions the push as Swift's first genuine Academy Awards campaign. The VMAs appearance followed a busy stretch for Swift, including a surprise cameo covered in our SNL Season 52 Episode 2 recap (her surprise cameo). Notably, Swift herself did not name the song or announce any Oscar plans from the VMAs stage — the campaign framing comes from Rich's reporting, not from any official statement by Swift or her team.

Why the Song Is Eligible

"I Knew It, I Knew You" was written by Swift with longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff for Toy Story 5. Released on June 5, 2026, the track debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 per The Ankler — reportedly her first Oscar-eligible movie song to top the chart (per Forbes reporting via ArchyWorldys). In a statement shared via Capital FM, Disney said the song was inspired by Jessie's journey and "marks a return to Taylor Swift's country roots," while writer-director Andrew Stanton said of the track that "it instantly felt like it had always belonged there." For the full words to the track, see our page with the 'I Knew It, I Knew You' lyrics. As an original song written for the film, it is eligible for Best Original Song at the 2027 Academy Awards; if nominated — or if she won — it would be Swift's first Oscar, per Capital FM and Just Jared.

The 2027 Competition

Per reports, Swift would face an already-crowded field. THR (via Mandatory) reports that several rival songs are already being campaigned for Best Original Song: Travis Scott's "When I'm Home" from The Odyssey, Jesse Eisenberg's "This City May Have Chewed Me Up (But It Hasn't Spit Me Out)" from A24's The Debut (performed by Julianne Moore), and Diane Warren's "By Any Means." As with Swift's song, these are reported campaigns — not confirmed nominations.

Grammy Chances

The song is also eligible for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 2027 Grammy Awards, according to Just Jared. A nomination there would not be Swift's first brush with the category: she previously won it in 2013 for "Safe & Sound" from The Hunger Games.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a confirmed Oscar nomination?
No. This is a reported campaign, per The Ankler — Swift has not been nominated, and no Academy shortlist has been announced. Calling it a nomination would be premature.

When are the 2027 Oscars?
"I Knew It, I Knew You" falls within the eligibility window leading to the 99th Academy Awards, which honor films and songs released in 2026.

Who wrote the song?
The ballad was written by Taylor Swift with Jack Antonoff for Toy Story 5, and released on June 5, 2026.

Has Taylor Swift ever been Oscar-nominated?
No. She has never been nominated for an Academy Award, so this reported campaign — if it leads to a nomination — would be her first. For her full awards history, see our Taylor Swift biography.