Taylor Swift is already one of the most successful artists in Grammy history, and she’s still at the pinnacle of her career. The superstar has won 14 trophies from more than 50 career nominations, and both figures will likely increase when the contenders for the 2027 ceremony are announced. The singer may even rank among the most-nominated musicians of the upcoming show.
The Academy Awards have proved much more difficult for Swift to crack. She has spent more than a decade pursuing her first Oscar nomination, largely via original songs and even a short film – she campaigned heavily on her All Too Well music video – but voters have left her out time and time again. “I Knew It, I Knew You,” her contribution to Toy Story 5, may finally end that streak and bring her to what is often considered the most prestigious honor in the entertainment world for the first time.
Taylor Swift May Finally Earn an Oscar Nomination
“I Knew It, I Knew You” looks like it’s in a great position to become Swift’s first Best Original Song nominee. The track debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — it ranked as the most popular song in America for two frames — and it has spent its chart entire run within the top five.
The single is Swift’s first Oscar-eligible movie song to conquer the Billboard Hot 100. Commercial success is not a requirement in the Best Original Song race, and a chart-topping smash is never guaranteed a nomination, but it can provide a considerable advantage when it comes to claiming one of the coveted five spots.
Recent examples of Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s that scored the honor include “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters and Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” from Trolls. Both became enormous commercial hits before competing for Best Original Song – the former even won a few months ago – and there have been many other chart champions connected to movies that have landed nominations throughout the decades.
The more ubiquitous a tune becomes, the more likely Academy voters are to recognize it before campaigning even begins. Familiarity is often half the battle in any awards race, and there are often a number of nominated tracks that people watching at home – and sometimes even those in the Academy – may not be familiar with. “I Knew It, I Knew You” has already reached an audience far beyond those who saw Toy Story 5, and both fans and critics have also responded warmly.
Taylor Swift Has Competed for Similar Honors
Despite her reputation as one of the defining songwriters of her generation, Swift has never been nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars. She has, however, competed four times in the equivalent category at the Golden Globes.
“Safe & Sound,” her collaboration with the Civil Wars from The Hunger Games, earned the superstar her first Golden Globe song nomination. “Sweeter Than Fiction” from One Chance, “Beautiful Ghosts” from Cats and “Carolina” from Where the Crawdads Sing followed throughout the years, but Swift lost each time.
Taylor Swift Has Already Won a Prize for a Movie Song
Swift has fared much better at the Grammys in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category, where she has competed four times. Unlike at the Golden Globes, she has actually won that prize.
Her first nomination in the category resulted in a victory for “Safe & Sound,” shared with now-defunct duo the Civil Wars. Swift later returned with “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever,” her collaboration with Zayn for Fifty Shades Darker, as well as “Beautiful Ghosts” and “Carolina,” though none of those tracks took home the prize.
“I Knew It, I Knew You” may bring Swift back to that Grammy field, as well as several others. The song could also compete in a number of country categories, depending on how it is submitted and classified by the Recording Academy.
Taylor Swift Must Continue a Toy Story Tradition
Every previous Toy Story movie produced a Best Original Song nominee, so “I Knew It, I Knew You” already has a considerable legacy to uphold. Randy Newman first competed with “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” which remains perhaps the defining song from the franchise. He returned to the category with “When She Loved Me,” “We Belong Together” and “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” which appeared in the second, third and fourth installments, respectively.
Newman finally won for Toy Story 3’s “We Belong Together” after losing with the first two nominated tracks. That triumph marked his second Best Original Song victory, following “If I Didn’t Have You” from Monsters, Inc.
Swift has tried repeatedly to join the relatively small group of pop superstars who can call themselves Academy Award nominees, with recurrent stars like Rihanna, Lady Gaga and SZA all earning a spot in the past. With her first No. 1 movie hit, a celebrated franchise and decades of goodwill toward Toy Story behind her, “I Knew It, I Knew You” seems like it is already her strongest opportunity yet.