Taylor Swift’s ‘Toy Story 5’ Song ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ Bows at No. 1, Becoming Her 15th Hot 100 Topper

Taylor Swift has extended her reign over the music charts, with her latest single “I Knew It, I Knew You” debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track, drawn from the forthcoming animated feature “Toy Story 5,” becomes just the third song from a Disney animated movie to top the chart. It follows in the footsteps of “A Whole New World” from 1993’s “Aladdin” and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from 2022’s “Encanto.” Industry expert Sarah Jenkins commented, “Swift’s capacity to dominate across pop and niche formats like country radio highlights a rare cross-genre appeal, even among top-tier artists.” With this latest achievement, Swift now holds 15 career No. 1 hits, placing her third on the all-time list behind the Beatles (20) and Mariah Carey (19). She has surpassed the tie she previously shared with Rihanna and Drake, each of whom had 14 chart-toppers before this week. This milestone speaks to Swift’s enduring relevance in an industry where long-term success is increasingly elusive. The singer, whose 2014 transition to pop with “1989” redefined her sound, has consistently shown an ability to adapt while retaining her core fanbase.

The single’s debut week was fueled by 27.2 million on-demand streams and 46.7 million radio audience impressions. Digital downloads accounted for 87,000 sales, as physical copies—including limited-edition CDs and vinyl sold on Swift’s webstore—had not yet shipped before the tracking period closed. A notable factor in the song’s performance was its push on country radio, a format Swift had largely stepped away from since her shift to pop. This strategic decision paid off: “I Knew It, I Knew You” entered at No. 8 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, an impressive start, and also landed at No. 9 on the Adult Contemporary Airplay chart. It reached the top 20 on both pop and adult pop airplay charts. On the overall Country Songs chart, which combines streaming and radio data, the single debuted at No. 1, marking Swift’s tenth leader there. Producer Jack Antonoff, a long-time collaborator, remarked, “This track feels like a return to her origins, but with a contemporary edge that connects with listeners of all ages.” The success underscores how Swift’s early country roots continue to shape her music, even as she remains a global pop icon. For context, Swift’s 2006 self-titled debut album launched her as a country star, and she has since sold over 200 million records worldwide.

This week’s Hot 100 top 10 includes four country songs, with Swift’s entry followed by three from Ella Langley: “Choosin’ Texas” at No. 2, “Be Her” at No. 4, and “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” a duet with Morgan Wallen, at No. 9. Other notable tracks include Drake’s “Janice STFU” at No. 3, Ariana Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me” at No. 5, Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might” at No. 6, two songs from Olivia Dean—”Man I Need” and “So Easy (to Fall in Love)”—at Nos. 6 and 7, and Tame Impala and Jennie’s “Dracula” at No. 10. On the Billboard 200 album chart, Drake’s “Iceman” retained the top spot for a fourth consecutive week, earning 133,000 equivalent album units—a 22% decline from the previous week. The highest new entry was Malcolm Todd’s “Do That Again” at No. 5 with 67,000 units, while Niall Horan’s “Dinner Party” debuted at No. 7 with 55,000 units. The rest of the top 10 included Ella Langley’s “Dandelion” at No. 2 (87,000 units, down just 7%), Morgan Wallen’s “I’m the Problem” at No. 3, Noah Kahan’s “The Great Divide” at No. 4, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and “Number Ones” at Nos. 6-7, Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time” at No. 9, and Olivia Dean’s “The Art of Loving” reentering at No. 10. The sustained performance of Langley and Wallen reflects the growing dominance of country music on streaming platforms, a trend that gained momentum in the early 2020s. Industry analysts point to a rising demand for narrative-driven lyrics, a hallmark of the genre, as a key driver of this shift.