The film was released in the fall of 1996, just ahead of Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks' directorial debut "That Thing You Do!", which likewise covered the early to mid-1960s pop music scene and featured original, retro-styled songs on the soundtrack. "Grace of My Heart" was Anders's fourth feature film, and followed her "Border Radio" (1987), "Gas Food Lodging" (1992), and "Mi Vida Loca" (1993).