Jennette McCurdy just embarked on her first ever mall tour called Generation Love and in a new interview with The Tennessean, the 18-year-old actress/singer opened up about her music, not being preachy and dealing with her mom going through a second round of treatment.

Check out what she had to say:

On her Generation Love tour: “She’s [my mom is] still going through chemo [for the second time] and everything. It’s a continuous battle and it’s rough on everybody, but at the same time I feel like I can speak to people when I meet them in person on some level of understanding, though of course everyone’s situation with cancer is different. I thought, ‘What’s the use in having so many blessings unless I try and give back in some way?’”

On making music that make people feel good: “I enjoy songs with universal messages about trying to make the world a better place. I don’t want to push anything down anyone’s throat or be preachy or anything like that, but I just want songs that make people feel good.”

On having a story to tell: “I’ve got my own stories behind the songs, but I hope fans can attach their own stories to each of them and that they can leave feeling understood and like they have a friend and are not alone.”

Check out all of Jennette‘s tour dates at her official site. JJJ sends our prayers to Jennette and her family.