Don Cornelius
Don Cornelius, the creator of long running show "Soul Train," was found dead in his Sherman Oaks, Calif home on Wednesday morning. Authorities believe that he committed suicide. Friends, fans and other celebrities expressed their grief through the social media platform. Reuters

Don Cornelius, the creator of long running show Soul Train, was found dead in his Sherman Oaks, Calif home on Wednesday morning. Authorities believe that he committed suicide.

Authorities discovered Cornelius' body about 4 a.m. Wednesday morning. He reportedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, reported TMZ.

Cornelius was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was 75-years-old.

#DonCornelius and #SoulTrain immediately began trending on Twitter as soon as the news broke. Friends, fans and other celebrities expressed their grief through the social media platform.

JUST WOKE UP TO SOME SAD NEWS , R.I.P. Don Cornelius founder of SOUL TRAIN, wrote hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean.

Don Cornelius was a cultural curator, wrote ESPN analyst and sportswriter J.A. Adande. Don Cornelius had to give hints at the Scramble Board, right? Cause they'd get Parliament Funkadelic in 2 seconds, he wrote in jest in another Tweet.

I am shocked and grief stricken by the reported suicide of Don Cornelius of Soul Train. I have known him since I was 19 years old, wrote Rev. Al Sharpton. Sharpton also released a statement on his Facebook account.

I am shocked and grief stricken by the reported news of the suicide of Don Cornelius, the creator of Soul Train. I have known him since I was19-years-old and James Brown had me speak on Soul Train. We have maintained a friendship for the last 38-years. He brought soul music and dance to the world in a way that it had never been shown and he was a cultural game changer on a global level. Had it not been for Don Cornelius we would not have ever transcended from the Chitlin circuit to become mainstream cultural trendsetters.

So sad: Don Cornelius ,Soul Train creator was found dead in his Sherman Oaks, CA home this morning, appears he committed suicide, wrote famed weatherman Al Roker.

Sharing my thoughts on the passing of Don Cornelius. I loved that man, wrote Russell Simmons, music producer and founder of Def Jam and Phat Farm.

It meant more to me to perform on #SoulTrain than to win a Grammy .. Loved U So Much Don.. Thank U RIP #DonCornelius wrote rapper MC Hammer.

Fans also took to Twitter in order to honor the beloved icon and Soul Train host.

R.I.P.Don CorneliusSoul Train The Hippest Trip In America was the BEST!!!!!!, wrote Twitter user TheRealMiaX.

Don Cornelius is gone! An inspiration to us deep voiced guys the world around! I used to watch Soul Train every week!, wrote Twitter user Gabe Wachob.