Taylor Swift Returns to Country Radio No. 1 After 13 Years With Toy Story 5 Song

Taylor Swift has returned to the top of the U.S. country radio chart for the first time in 13 years. Her song ‘I Knew It, I Knew You,’ written for the Toy Story 5 soundtrack, reached No. 1 on the Mediabase country building chart after surging from No. 4 the previous week.

The milestone marks Swift’s first country radio No. 1 since 2013. The track debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent two weeks at the top. It is her 14th overall country radio No. 1 single.

Handwritten Note Sparks Fan Theories

Swift celebrated the achievement by sending a handwritten note to country radio. The note read, ‘You really know how to welcome a girl back! My first #1 in 13 years! Thank you country radio. Love, Taylor.’

The mention of 13 years drew immediate attention from fans because 13 is Swift’s favorite number and her next album would be her 13th. Some fans speculated that the note could be a hint about her upcoming project. One fan wrote, ‘We’ve reached a dilemma is this just a silly little 13 or a ts13 Easter egg 13.’

New Music in Progress

Swift is actively working on new music. A Page Six report in late August said she has been ‘pouring herself into writing new music and is incredibly inspired creatively.’ The report added that songwriting has been her main focus.

The news of new music drew mixed reactions online. Some fans expressed frustration at the pace of releases. One comment read, ‘STOP WRITING MUSIC PLEASE OUR EARS NEED A BREAK.’ Another wrote, ‘The worst news I’ve heard all week.’

Swift’s most recent studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, was released on October 3, 2025. The 12-track album received a polarising response from critics and fans alike. Despite the backlash, the album was a commercial success.

Disney+ Projects and Emmy Nominations

Swift released two projects on Disney+ in December 2025. The six-episode docuseries ‘Taylor Swift: The End of an Era’ chronicled the development and impact of her record-breaking Eras Tour. A full concert film, ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour: The Final Show,’ captured the final tour stop in Vancouver on December 8, 2024.

The Final Show concert film earned five Emmy nominations in 2026, including Outstanding Variety Special. It went into the 78th Emmy Awards with five nominations and did not win any trophies.

Married Life and Public Appearances

Swift married NFL star Travis Kelce on July 3, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The ceremony was officiated by Adam Sandler and attended by around 1,000 guests, including Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, Bradley Cooper, and Sabrina Carpenter.

The couple has been seen together at several public events since the wedding. On September 7, they had a dinner date at Ambassadors Clubhouse in Manhattan. Swift wore a metallic brown-and-gold one-shoulder dress, while Kelce opted for a cream-colored striped button-up shirt and brown trousers.

Directorial Debut Still in Development

Swift is also preparing her feature film directorial debut for Searchlight Pictures. She has written an original screenplay, though details about the plot and cast remain undisclosed. The project was first announced in December 2022.

The latest confirmed status is that Swift is back in the studio writing new music. Her song ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ has reached No. 1 on country radio. No release date for a new album has been announced. Her directorial debut remains in development at Searchlight Pictures.