Taylor Swift took the stage at the Toy Story 5 premiere to perform live for the first time a new song she wrote for the film. The event, held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, drew attention with Swift’s surprise performance.
After taking photos on the red carpet with the film crew and Disney executives, Swift delivered a brief solo performance on the piano. Her song "I Knew It, I Knew You" stood out as her first original piece written for the Toy Story universe.
Shared Stage with Randy Newman
Following her performance, Randy Newman joined the stage and sang the original Toy Story song "You’ve Got A Friend In Me" alongside Swift. It was noted that the two shared a brief and warm exchange during the performance.
At 82 years old, Newman has rarely performed recently due to health issues. This appearance marked his first time performing before a large audience since last year’s John Mulaney show.
The evening was also notable as Swift’s first time singing in front of a crowd since the finale of her Eras Tour in December 2024. She took the opportunity to thank those who contributed to the Toy Story films. Tom Hanks remarked that hearing the new song felt like "hearing Judy Garland’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow for the first time."
The gala brought Swift and Newman together on the same stage, with Swift’s new song becoming one of the most talked-about moments of the film’s launch.