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Source: Pixar
«Toy Story 5» is one of the most anticipated films of 2026. The franchise has been around for over three decades, and Joan Cusack has voiced Jessie for over two of those decades. By this point, she's spent a fair amount of time with her fiery cowgirl character—likely delivering some of Jessie's most iconic lines countless times. One of the most memorable, of course, is the signature "Yee-haw!" of the Wild West's most fiery cowgirl, though it turns out Cusack wasn't immediately sold on the phrase, as she told CinemaBlend.
Jessie Cusack first voiced Jessie in «Toy Story 2» , when the character was introduced alongside Woody's gang. Since then, she has voiced Jessie in all the feature-length films of the franchise, as well as numerous shorts, video games, specials, and promotions. The cowgirl has yodeled and "yee-hawed" numerous times, and from what we know of «Toy Story 5» , Jessie will likely take a more central role—which probably means even more signature exclamations from our favorite cowgirl.
Ahead of the release «Toy Story 5» I had the opportunity to speak with Kusak during a recent event at Walt Disney World, and I couldn't resist asking about Jessie's signature phrase. The seasoned actress admitted that her take on "Yee-ha!" has changed over the years:
I have to say, at first I felt like I was saying "Yihau" all the time, and then it just turned into something I really enjoyed. For example, I might end an email with "Yihau." It's just really funny, so I like saying it.
CinemaBlend was at Walt Disney World for a preview of Disney's summer "cool kid" celebration, where guests can also experience Jessie's Roundup: A Rip-A-Roarin' Revue at Magic Kingdom. It was there that Joan Cusack shared this juicy detail about Jessie, and I have to admit: saying "yeehaw" out loud is actually fun. However, after repeating the word over and over for over 20 years, I understand why it was initially met with a bit of a love-hate relationship before it simply became part of the character's makeup.
Considering Cusack has completely adopted Jessie's catchphrase, I can imagine her using it more than once in «Toy Story 5. Jessie, now taking on the role of Bullseye and given a bigger role, teams up with old friends—like a newly bald Woody—to help save Bonnie's toys from Lily Pad, voiced by Greta Lee, as technology threatens to take over gaming forever.
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However, despite this larger role, I still have one concern: Bonnie could become another Emily. Trailer «Toy Story 5» , seems to hint at Jessie's past, and fans can only hope she won't be forgotten again. I doubt Kusak would have signed that letter, but that line still lingers in my mind: "You'll never forget kids like Emily or Andy, but they'll forget you." One can only hope Bonnie never lets Jessie gather dust under her bed again.
Whether she's touching our hearts or leading the action in the franchise's latest adventure, Kusak seems to have fully embraced one of Jesse's most recognizable traits. And given that «Toy Story 5» gives the cowgirl the attention she deserves, I'm sure we'll hear a few yodels and plenty of yee-haws along the way. Premiere «Toy Story 5» will be released in cinemas on June 19.