Katy Perry Channels Aretha Franklin at Inauguration

By Sandra Sobieraj Westfall

01/21/2013 at 01:05 PM EST

Katy Perry was feeling festive – and possibly a little nostalgic – at the Inauguration of President Barack Obama on Monday.

The "Teenage Dream" singer, 28, who was joined by beau John Mayer, 35, in Washington, D.C., for the festivities, sported a fun little hat with a miniature version of the bow Aretha Franklin wore to the same event in 2009.

"I had it made," Perry told PEOPLE. "I thought it would be fun to do a shout-out back to four years ago."

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The duo, bundled up in coats to brave the chilly Washington, D.C., weather, were overheard talking about their impressive seats at the Inauguration, where Kelly Clarkson sang "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" and Beyoncé performed the National Anthem.