Following Parton's move from RCA Victor to Columbia, "The River Unbroken" was Parton's first single release on her new record label contract. It was not the commercial success expected and at the time was Parton's lowest charting single on the American Country Chart. "The River Unbroken" peaked at #63 on the American Billboard Hot Country Songs for a total of eight weeks, after debuting at #82. In Canada, the single peaked at #51 on the RPM Country Singles Chart for a total of two weeks, after debuting at a lowly #58 in mid-January 1988. On the Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart, the single fared better, peaking at #23 for a total of three weeks.

The original plan was for Parton to alternate between releasing pop and country albums (rather than trying to combine the two styles on each album), but due to Rainbow's poor sales and tepid critical reception, the plan was quickly abandoned, and Parton focused on recording country material for the remainder of her association with the label.

The song was written by American songwriter/producer Darrell Brown and American singer-songwriter David Batteau. It was produced by Steve "Golde" Goldstein.

The single was released in America and Canada via Columbia Records on 7" vinyl, and via CBS Records in the UK on 7" vinyl. It was later issued via Versailles on CD and cassette. The single featured the Rainbow album track "More Than I Can Say" as the B-Side, which was written solely by Parton and produced by Goldstein. An promotional 7" vinyl was also issued which featured "The River Unbroken" on both sides of the vinyl.

The 7" vinyl release featured artwork, with a photograph of Parton posing, taken by Annie Leibovitz. It was taken during the same sessions as the photograph used for the Rainbow album cover.

Following the song's original release as a single and on the Rainbow album, the song has appeared on three compilations. In 1995, it appeared on the Columbia various artists compilation Country Chartbusters. CBS Records also added the song to the 1989 various artists compilation Les Plus Grands Moments Country - American Ballads. The only Dolly Parton compilation it has featured on is the 2000 Sony Music Distribution release La Legende Country.

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