Released as the album's lead single in 1998, the song became a surprise hit for Franklin, 40-plus years into her career, reaching number 26 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 and number-five on the &lt;a href="Hot%20R%26amp%3BB/Hip-Hop%20Songs"&gt;Hot R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Songs&lt;/a&gt; chart, while also reaching the UK top 40. "A Rose Is Still a Rose" remains one of Franklin's most played songs from her later years and was her last top 40 hit. The single received nominations for Best Female R&amp;B Vocal Performance and Best R&amp;B Song at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. An accompanying music video, directed by Hill and designed by Ron Norsworthy, features Franklin, Hill and other female R&amp;B singers such as Faith Evans, Changing Faces, Amel Larrieux and actress Elise Neal as protagonists along with A Tribe Called Quest rapper, Q-Tip.