Taylor Swift makes surprise appearance at Toy Story 5 premiere

HOLLYWOOD: Taylor Swift made an unannounced appearance at the premiere of Pixar’s Toy Story 5, where she performed live in a yellow outfit styled as a nod to Jessie, one of the franchise’s best-known characters.

The singer, seated at a piano in a floor-length gown, performed I Knew It, I Knew You, a song she wrote for the latest instalment in the Toy Story series. Speaking at the event, Swift said she had been a longtime admirer of the franchise.

"It means the world to me to be a small part of these films"

Her appearance added a major musical moment to the film’s launch event. Swift later returned to the stage for a second performance set, drawing another strong response from the audience before thanking the filmmakers and the production team.

Red carpet appearance with cast

Before taking the stage, Swift also appeared on the red carpet alongside Tom Hanks, Joan Cusack and other members of the Toy Story voice cast. The event brought together key figures associated with the animated series ahead of the new film’s release.

Swift’s participation marks another prominent overlap between her music career and film work as she broadens her involvement in cinema projects. Her contribution to the Toy Story 5 soundtrack also links pop music with one of animation’s most commercially successful franchises, drawing attention before the movie reaches theatres.

Toy Story 5 is due to be released by Walt Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios on June 19.

Spotted at NBA Finals game

A day after the premiere, Swift was seen at Madison Square Garden among the celebrity crowd as the New York Knicks produced the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history.

She was seated courtside wearing a blue T-shirt bearing the phrase Stevie Knicks, a reference to singer Stevie Nicks. Swift was accompanied by Alana Haim and Este Haim, who wore similarly themed shirts reading Knickelback and Knickole Kidman, respectively.