Barry’s transition led to Samantha performing the second verse of the Bee Gees track. She interpreted that section with a soulful style before she and Barry combined their voices on the chorus. Another performance of the ballad had taken place at the Manhattan Center on April 17, 2001. On that occasion, all three Bee Gees brothers—Barry, Robin and Maurice—were present and sang the song.

Samantha has also pursued her own work in music while living in Nashville. She formed a songwriting collaboration with Lazaro Rodriguez in 2004. In the years that followed, she put out original material of her own and created compositions intended for other performers.

Within the Bee Gees’ recording history, “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” was their first single to reach the top position in the United States. Released ahead of the other singles from the group’s 1971 studio record Trafalgar, it later received US Gold certification. The song dates to August 1970 and at first listed only Barry and Robin Gibb as composers. Maurice gained a songwriting credit when the track appeared on Ultimate Bee Gees, a compilation issued in 2009.

The recording session occurred at London’s IBC Studios on January 28, 1971. Work on the track proceeded with unusual speed despite the standard of the finished performances. Robin subsequently said the complete process lasted roughly one hour. He also remembered how pleased the group was when the single ultimately climbed to number one.