5 Movie Songs Have Entered the Hot 100 at No. 1: See How They Fared During Awards Season

Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You,” which entered the Billboard Hot 100 last week at No. 1, is the fifth film song to enter that chart in pole position. The song holds at No. 1 for a second week (chart dated June 27).

Does that mean it’s guaranteed an Oscar nomination for best original song? Not exactly. The first film song to enter the Hot 100 at No. 1, Whitney Houston’s “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” from Waiting To Exhale, wasn’t nominated for an Oscar. In fact, the film, in which Houston starred alongside Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine and Lela Rochonx, wasn’t nominated in any categories.

But Swift’s fast start with “I Knew It, I Knew You” certainly makes it a strong candidate for an Oscar nod for best original song. The other three film songs that debuted at No. 1 were at least nominated for an Oscar in that category. One of them won.

And each of the first four installments in the Toy Story franchise spawned an Oscar-nominated song. One of them, “We Belong Together” from Toy Story 3, won. Randy Newman wrote all four songs by himself.

Other leading contenders for best original song Oscar nominations at the 2027 Academy Awards include “How to Write a Song Without You,” which both Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd perform in John Carney’s Power Ballad; “Shape of a Woman,” which Lady Gaga performs during her cameo appearance in The Devil Wears Prada 2; and whatever Diane Warren’s camp submits. Warren has been nominated for best original song the last nine years in a row, an unprecedented feat. She has, famously, yet to win in the category, despite 17 nominations.

Here’s a complete chronological list of the five movie songs that have entered the Hot 100 at No. 1, along with how those songs fared at the Oscars and the Grammys.