Taylor Swift Performs Duet With Randy Newman at Toy Story 5 Premiere

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As the years go by, word of this duet will never die.  

Taylor Swift was at the premiere of Toy Story 5 in Los Angeles on June 9th. She wrote a song called “I Knew it, I Knew You” for the movie and teamed up with composer Randy Newman to unexpectedly perform his classic song, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” for the audience.

Taylor Swift and 82-year-old Randy Newman performed together, with Newman playing the piano and Swift singing. The performance happened 30 years after Newman wrote the song for the original Toy Story movie, which came out in 1995.

This time, Newman even added a little flare to his hit song. When Swift sang, “Some other folks might be a little smarter than I am,” he added into the mic, “No one is smarter than you,” earning a laugh from the audience and the Midnights artist herself. 

Taylor Swift, looking radiant in a sparkling yellow gown and with her hair braided like her character Jessie, performed not once but twice at the premiere. She not only sang some of her hits but also gave the very first live performance of her new song, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” playing the piano herself.

Before taking the stage, the Grammy-winning artist acknowledged the entire team behind Toy Story 5, with a particularly warm shout-out to the voice actress who plays Jessie.

She praised Joan Cusack’s amazing performance as Jessie, saying it was a privilege to write for her. She also expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work on the film, specifically thanking Andrew Stanton and Kenna Harris, the writers and directors, for believing in her and allowing her to be a part of such an inspiring project.

More than anything, the 36-year-old wanted to express gratitude to Newman, who has composed the music for all of the Toy Story movies.

I feel very fortunate to be here, and it’s thanks to the person who created the musical world of Toy Story. He’s a master at evoking strong emotions – making us feel deeply, laugh, and even cry. He’s a friend of ours, and I think you all know who I mean: Randy Newman.”

Taylor Swift, who recently attended a premiere while rumors swirled about her possible wedding to Travis Kelce, released the song “I Knew It, I Knew You” on June 5th. With the song, the artist acknowledged she was inspired by and paying tribute to the work of the beloved performer, Newman.

More than anything, the 36-year-old wanted to express gratitude to Newman, who has composed the music for all of the Toy Story movies.

“I’m also lucky enough to be here because of someone else who is the architect of the Toy Story musical universe,” Swift continued. “He is the king of making us feel the absolute most and pulling at our heartstrings and making us laugh. He’s one of our friends, you know what I mean? I’m talking about Randy Newman.”

Taylor Swift, who recently attended a premiere while rumors swirled about her possible wedding to Travis Kelce, released the song “I Knew It, I Knew You” on June 5th. With this release, the artist hinted that she was inspired by and paying tribute to the work of the performer known as Life of a Showgirl.

I just have to say, Randy Newman is a true genius! His music – both songs and scores – is absolutely beautiful and so carefully crafted. He built the entire musical world of Toy Story, and honestly, it’s a gift to all of us to be able to experience it. I’m so grateful for his incredible work!

The premiere of Toy Story 5 brought together the film’s original cast members, like Joan, Tom Hanks, and Tim Allen, with newer stars including Greta Lee and Shelby Rabara. Keep reading for more highlights from the event.

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2026-06-10 15:17