Taylor Swifts Toy Story 5 Song Debuts at #8 on Billboard Country Airplay, First Woman to Do So Since 1990

Taylor Swift released the track “I Knew It, I Knew You” on June 5 as part of the Toy Story 5 soundtrack. The song, performed in‑film by the character Jessie, was marketed as a country single and entered the Billboard Country Airplay chart at number 8. The debut makes Swift the first woman to enter the Top 10 on that chart since its inception in 1990, and the second single ever to do so after Garth Brooks’ 2007 entry “More Than a Memory.”

The track also topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, its first week of eligibility, and entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 1, becoming Swift’s fifteenth Hot 100 topper. The song’s rapid climb has been described as a record‑setting moment for a female artist on country radio, a format that has historically been slow to add new releases from artists outside the core country roster.

Country radio’s response has been uneven. Billboard’s Luminate panel placed the single in the Top 10 immediately, while Mediabase reported a debut at number 25 and a current position of 17. The discrepancy highlights differences in panel composition and weighting between the two services. Saving Country Music, a blog that focuses on independent country artists, issued a statement acknowledging that its earlier assessment of the song’s potential was overly cautious. The blog had previously noted that Swift’s “Betty” from Folklore peaked at 32 on country radio and that “No Body, No Crime” from Evermore stalled at 54.

The success of “I Knew It, I Knew You” has implications beyond chart positions. The song’s presence on the Country Airplay chart has placed Swift in contention for consideration by the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, and the Grammys, which often seek high‑profile performers for televised award shows. The track’s performance also intersects with the current dominance of Ella Langley, whose single “Choosin’ Texas” has held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for several weeks and whose other releases “Be Her” and “I Can’t Love You Anymore” occupy the Country Airplay Top 5.

Langley’s streak was interrupted when “I Knew It, I Knew You” displaced her from the Hot 100’s number 1 position. While Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” remains at number 2 on the Hot 100, the new single’s entry into the country charts suggests that country radio is receptive to high‑profile crossover releases, especially those tied to major film franchises. Critics have noted that the song lacks some of the traditional “twang” associated with contemporary country hits, yet its melodic structure and lyrical content align with the genre’s storytelling conventions.

Industry observers point out that the rapid adoption of the track may reflect country radio’s willingness to play songs that are heavily promoted by major labels and streaming platforms, rather than a shift in listener preference. The song’s performance may also influence future decisions by record labels regarding the placement of soundtrack singles on country playlists.

At present, “I Knew It, I Knew You” remains a Top 10 country radio hit and a number 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Its continued trajectory will determine whether it becomes a lasting addition to the country repertoire or a short‑lived crossover phenomenon.